R 221232Z DEC 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 748/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/2012 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE//
POC/C. M.  NELSON/CAPT/UNIT:CMC (MPE)/-/TEL: DSN 278-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR'S BIRTHDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED ON 16 JANUARY 2012.  ESTABLISHED BY PUBLIC LAW 98-144, THE 98TH U.S. CONGRESS DESIGNATED THE THIRD MONDAY IN JANUARY A NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN HONOR OF DR. KING.  SINCE THE FIRST KING HOLIDAY ON JANUARY 20, 1986, THE OBSERVANCE HAS BEEN A DAY OF INCLUSION AND REMEMBERANCE OF DR. KING'S LIFE, SACRIFICES, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
2.  THE PERMANENT THEME FOR THIS HOLIDAY IS "REMEMBER, CELEBRATE, ACT, A DAY ON, NOT A DAY OFF."  THIS THEME SERVES AS A REMINDER THAT THE DR. KING HOLIDAY IS A DAY FOR COMMUNITY AND HUMANITARIAN SERVICE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS. A MAN OF ACTION, DR. KING PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE AND ULTIMATELY PAID THE HIGHEST PRICE TO MAKE DEMOCRACY A REALITY FOR ALL AMERICANS.  AS MARINES AND MARINE CORPS CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, WE HONOR DR. KING'S DREAM AS WE CONTINUE TO SERVE SELFLESSLY AND PROUDLY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, ALWAYS GUIDED BY OUR CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.
3.  EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO REFLECT ON THE JOURNEY OF A MAN WHO DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO ACHIEVING EQUALITY FOR ALL PEOPLE.  AS MARINES AND CIVILIAN MARINES, WE TAKE PRIDE IN TREATING EVERYONE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.  BY DOING SO, WE CONTINUE TO SUCCEED IN OUR MISSION OF MAKING MARINES, WINNING BATTLES, AND RETURNING QUALITY CITIZENS TO SOCIETY.  AS A NATION, WE CONTINUE STRIVING TO REALIZE DR. KING'S DREAM OF A SOCIETY WHOSE CITIZENS ARE PROVIDED THE FULL ADVANTAGE OF REACHING THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL.
4.  DURING THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE, COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE DR. KING'S LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS COUNTRY.  COMMANDERS ARE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN OBSERVANCE EVENTS.
5.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//