R 051900Z JAN 15
MARADMIN 003/15
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/MPE//
SUBJ/2015 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE//
POC//M. J. SHEPPARD/CIV/UNIT: MPE/-/TEL:(703)784-9371/TEL: DSN 278-9371/EMAIL: MARC.SHEPPARD (AT) USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S BIRTHDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED ON 19 JANUARY 2015. 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 DR. KING’S HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE IS “REMEMBER! CELEBRATE! ACT! A DAY ON, NOT A DAY OFF!” THIS THEME REMINDS US THAT DR. KING’S HOLIDAY IS A DAY FOR COMMUNITY AND HUMANITARIAN SERVICE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS. THE KING HOLIDAY EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS AND UNIFIES COMMUNITIES AS WE MOVE CLOSER TOWARDS THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS DREAM TO MAKE DEMOCRACY A REALITY.
3. DR. KING WAS THE FACE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE 1960S. HE WAS AN IMPORTANT CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST WHO WAS A DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE. A LEADER IN THE MOVEMENT TO END RACIAL SEGREGATION IN THE UNITED STATES, HIS MOST FAMOUS ADDRESS WAS THE “I HAVE A DREAM” SPEECH. DR. KING WAS AN ADVOCATE OF NON-VIOLENT PROTEST AND BECAME THE YOUNGEST MAN TO BE AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.
4. ALL ARE ENCOURAGED TO REFLECT ON THE JOURNEY OF DR. KING WHO WAS DEDICATED TO ENSURING EQUALITY FOR ALL. AS MARINES AND CIVILIAN MARINES, WE TAKE PRIDE IN TREATING EVERYONE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. FOR THAT REASON, WE CONTINUE TO SUCCEED IN OUR MISSION OF MAKING MARINES, WINNING BATTLES AND RETURNING QUALITY CITIZENS TO SOCIETY.
5. 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.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//