R 181545Z DEC 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 0719/09
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/2010 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE//
POC/D. G. JACOBS/CAPT/UNIT:MPE/-/TEL:(703) 784-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED ON 18 JANUARY 2010.  ESTABLISHED BY PUBLIC LAW 98-144, CONGRESS DESIGNATED THE THIRD MONDAY IN JANUARY A NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN HONOR OF DR. KING.  THE FIRST NATIONALLY OBSERVED DR. KING HOLIDAY OCCURRED IN 1986.  TODAY, THE OBSERVANCE IS CELEBRATED IN ALL 50 STATES AND IN OVER 100 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
2.  THE HOLIDAY IS A TIME TO COMMEMORATE AND REFLECT ON DR. KING'S WORDS AND WORKS TO PROMOTE JUSTICE, EQUALITY, AND DIGNITY FOR ALL HUMANITY.  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, NOT JUST A DAY OFF FROM WORK OR SCHOOL.
3.  A MAN OF ACTION, DR. KING PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE EVERY DAY AND ULTIMATELY PAID THE HIGHEST PRICE TO MAKE DEMOCRACY A REALITY FOR ALL AMERICANS.  AS MARINES AND MARINE CORPS CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, WE STRIVE TO EMULATE DR. KING'S INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP, TIRELESS COMMITMENT, AND MORAL AND PHYSICAL COURAGE.  DR. KING DREAMT AND FOUGHT TO CREATE A SOCIETY WHERE ALL OF ITS CITIZENS ARE PROVIDED AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL.  THEREFORE, BY HONORING DR. KING'S LEGACY DURING THIS HOLIDAY WE KEEP HIS DREAM ALIVE.
4.  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.
5.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//