MARADMINS : 007/05
R 051800Z JAN 05
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 007/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MP//
SUBJ/DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE//
POC/POC/R. L. TAYLOR/CAPT/LOC:MRA(MPE)/TEL:278-9371
/TEL:(703) 784-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE 19TH NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF DR. MARTIN
LUTHER
KING, JR.'S BIRTHDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED ON 17 JAN 05.
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. THIS YEAR WE WILL REMEMBER DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS, AND HIS SACRIFICE FOR OUR NATION. LIKE ALL GREAT
LEADERS, HE LED BY EXAMPLE BY ADHERING TO HIS OWN PHILOSOPHY
OF MORAL COURAGE: "THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE
HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE, BUT WHERE HE
STANDS AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY." BRILLIANT AND
ACCOMPLISHED IN HIS EDUCATIONAL CAREER, DR. KING CHOSE TO COMMIT
HIMSELF TO ATTACKING INJUSTICE AT GREAT PERSONAL RISK TO HIMSELF
AND HIS FOLLOWERS. AS MARINES WE CAN IDENTIFY WITH THE
HONORABLE WAY IN WHICH HE FOUGHT FOR CHANGE, THE IMMENSE COURAGE
HE DISPLAYED DURING TIMES OF GREAT PERIL TO HIS OWN SAFETY, AND
HIS TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM.
3. OUR 33RD COMMANDANT, GENERAL HAGEE, CHARGES US "TO INSTILL
THE STAMINA AND TOUGHNESS IN EACH MARINE WHILE CREATING AN
ENVIRONMENT THAT VALUES HONOR, INTEGRITY AND CARING FOR THEIR
FELLOW MARINES." THIS ENVIRONMENT, FREE FROM THE PREJUDICE THAT
DR. KING LED OUR COUNTRY AGAINST "EXISTS WHEN WE TREAT EACH OTHER
WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT." THROUGH HIS EXAMPLE, DR. KING LED NOT
ONLY AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, HE LED
OUR ENTIRE NATION TO REALIZE ITS PROMISE OF FREEDOM AND EQUALITY
FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS.
4. MARINES ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TIME ON THIS HOLIDAY
OBSERVANCE TO REFLECT ON THE MAN WHO DEDICATED HIS LIFE
IN THE SEARCH OF EQUALITY FOR ALL PEOPLE. COMMANDERS ARE
ALSO ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP LOCAL PROGRAMS CONSISTENT WITH THIS
CELEBRATION.//