R 041205Z JAN 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 004/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/2011 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE//
POC/C. M.  NELSON/CAPT/CMC (MPE)/-/TEL: DSN 278-9371/TEL: COMM (703)784-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED ON 17 JANUARY 2011. 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.  DR. KING STATED IN HIS ADDRESS AT THE 1963 MARCH ON WASHINGTON, "I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOUR CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER."  HE FURTHER ELOQUENTLY STATED, "I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY THIS NATION WILL RISE UP, LIVE OUT THE TRUE MEANING OF ITS CREED, WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT; THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL."  IT IS ON THIS HOLIDAY WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF A MAN WHO BROUGHT HOPE, HEALING, AND INSPIRATION TO AMERICA.
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.  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 AT THEIR COMMANDS AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
4.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//