UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 731/07
142221Z DEC 07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA/MP DIV//
SUBJ/DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE//
POC/M. D. FAMULARO/CAPT/MPE/-/TEL:(703)
784-9371/TEL:DSN 278-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL
OBSERVANCE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED ON 21 JAN 08. ESTABLISHED BY PUBLIC LAW 98-144 IN 1986, CONGRESS DESIGNATED THE THIRD MONDAY IN JANUARY A NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN HONOR OF DR. KING. THE PERMANENT THEME FOR THIS HOLIDAY IS "REMEMBER! CELEBRATE! ACT! A DAY ON, NOT A DAY OFF!"
2. "I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY THIS NATION WILL RISE UP, AND LIVE OUT THE TRUE MEANING OF ITS CREED: WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF- EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL." DR. KING SO ELOQUENTLY SPOKE THESE WORDS DURING HIS SPEECH ON THE WASHINGTON MALL. THESE WORDS TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS AND STILL ECHO IN THE MINDS OF MANY TODAY. OUR COUNTRY CONTINUES TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THE TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SACRIFICES OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ON THIS ANNUAL HOLIDAY, WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF A MAN WHO BROUGHT HOPE AND HEALING TO AMERICA.
3. ALL MARINES ARE 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, RETURNING QUALITY CITIZENS TO SOCIETY, AND STRIVING TO REALIZE DR. KING'S DREAM OF A SOCIETY WHOSE CITIZENS ARE PROVIDED THE FULL ADVANTAGE OF REACHING THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL.
4. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP LOCAL PROGRAMS CONSISTENT WITH THIS CELEBRATION.
5. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. M.F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//