Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.
By: Jake | January 21, 2008 | Category: General
Today federal and state governments recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so their offices will be closed (along with banks and some other private enterprises).
Dr. King's birthday is on January 15th and after much debate nationally, President Ronald Reagan signed a law in 1983 designating the third Monday in January as the official federal holiday. This is consistent with Washington's Birthday, which is February 22nd, but has an official federal holiday on the third Monday of February because of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
In 1994, after Coretta Scott King testified before congress in support of making the King Holiday an official national day of humanitarian service, President Bill Clinton signed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act. The Act expanded the mission of the holiday as a day of community service, interracial cooperation and youth anti-violence initiatives.
The Corporation for National and Community Service says participation in the King Day for Service is increasing every year. The MLKDay.gov website has ways for you to get involved with volunteer opportunities all over the country.
So if you have the day off, go and help live out Dr. King's dream.
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http://youtube.com/watch?v=AtugYg42mmc
Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day everybody
David Spates
http://www.youtube.com/davidspates
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I hope everyone had a great holiday, even those who didn't have it off. :)
Jake
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