R 290800Z DEC 97 ZYB
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//MP//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS //N05354//
ALMAR 438/97
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC/MPE//
SUBJ/DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. OBSERVANCE//
POC/E. E. ROBINSON/1STLT/PRIPHN:(703)693-2562/-/DSN 223-2562
/SECPHN:(703)693-2565/-//
RMKS/1.  THE THIRTEENTH NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF THE BIRTHDAY OF
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WILL BE CELEBRATED ON MONDAY, 19 JANUARY
1998.
2.  DR. KING'S BIRTHDAY IS CELEBRATED IN OVER 100 COUNTRIES WORLD-
WIDE, BECAUSE HE REPRESENTS AN AMERICAN IDEAL - AN UNRELENTING
CHAMPION FOR EQUALITY.  HIS NON-VIOLENT MOVEMENT DEFINED THE MEANING
OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.  THE MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA BUS
BOYCOTT, SIT-INS, AND MARCHES ON WASHINGTON, DC WERE SIGNIFICANT
MILESTONES THAT ESTABLISHED THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT.
3.  DESPITE BEING ARRESTED AND PERSECUTED DURING THE STRUGGLE, DR.
KING'S UNDYING PERSEVERANCE AND DEDICATION CULMINATED IN 1964 WHEN HE
BECAME THE YOUNGEST RECIPIENT OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.  LATER, HE
WOULD DESCRIBE HIS AWARD AS THE "FOREMOST OF HEAVENLY HONORS" BEING
ACCORDED NOT TO HIM PERSONALLY, BUT TO THE MOVEMENT HE SYMBOLIZED.
DESPITE HIS TRAGIC MURDER IN 1968, DR. KING'S CHALLENGE TO "SERVE
HUMANITY" LIVES ON.  AS WE COMMEMORATE THE BIRTHDAY OF A MAN WHO
DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO GAINING CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL, LET US "REMEMBER!
CELEBRATE! ACT!; A DAY ON, NOT A DAY OFF."  THIS IS THE THEME FOR
THIS YEAR'S OBSERVANCE.  ALL PERSONNEL ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE
IN LOCAL CELEBRATIONS.
4.  AS PART OF A DOD REQUIREMENT, COMMANDS WITH EOAS ARE TASKED TO
SUBMIT A REPORT OF ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DR.
KING HOLIDAY TO CMC (MPE).  THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SHOULD BE
INCLUDED:
   A.  LOCATION OF OBSERVANCES CONDUCTED/SPONSORED.  ESTIMATED
ATTENDANCE.
   B.  IDENTIFICATION OF NOTEWORTHY GUEST SPEAKERS AND PARTICIPANTS.
   C.  DISCUSSION OF ANY STATIC DISPLAYS, SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
OR MEDIA COVERAGE.
   D.  ANY OTHER NOTEWORTHY INFORMATION.
5.  REPORT IS DUE TO CMC (MPE) NLT 14 FEB 98.//
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