R 142143Z JAN 14
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 020/14
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/2014 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE//
POC/C. J. WOERPEL/CPL/UNIT: MPE/-/TEL: (703) 784-9371/TEL: DSN 278-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR'S BIRTHDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED ON 20 JANUARY 2014.  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 20 JANUARY 1986, THE OBSERVANCE HAS BEEN A DAY OF INCLUSION AND REMEMBRANCE OF DR. KING'S LIFE, SACRIFICES, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
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 DR. KING'S HOLIDAY IS A DAY FOR COMMUNITY AND HUMANITARIAN SERVICE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS. THE KING HOLIDAY EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS, UNIFIES COMMUNITIES AND MOVES US CLOSER TO HIS "DREAM," WHICH HE FAMOUSLY DESCRIBED IN A SPEECH ON 28 AUGUST 1963 FROM THE STEPS OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL TO A GATHERING OF OVER 250,000 CIVIL RIGHTS SUPPORTERS. DR. KING COMMITTED HIS LIFE TO SELFLESSLY SERVING OTHERS.  ON 4 APRIL 1968, DR. KING PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR HIS EFFORTS TO BRING EQUALITY TO ALL IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, BUT EVEN IN DEATH, HE CONTINUED ON AS A GALVANIZING FORCE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.  HIS ENERGY AND SPIRIT PAVED THE WAY FOR THE FALL OF AMERICAN APARTHEID AND SET THE NATION ON THE PATH OF LIVING UP TO ITS TRUE IDEALS.
3.  ALL ARE ENCOURAGED TO REFLECT ON DR. KING'S MILESTONES AND PRINCIPLES. THE MLK DAY OF SERVICE EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS, STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES, BRIDGES BARRIERS, CREATES SOLUTIONS TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS, AND MOVES US CLOSER TO DR. KING'S VISION OF A "BELOVED COMMUNITY." AS MARINES AND MARINE CORPS CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, WE REFLECT ON DR. KING'S JOURNEY AS WE CONTINUE TO SUCCEED IN OUR MISSION OF MAKING MARINES AND WINNING BATTLES WHILE FAITHFUL TO OUR VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT. DR. KING BELIEVED IN A NATION OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
4.  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.
5.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//