R 082051Z Dec 08
MARADMIN 697/08
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA//
SUBJ/DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE//
POC/J. A. HAYUNGS/MAJOR/UNIT: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 19 JAN 09.
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'S CELEBRATION HAS ADDED SIGNIFICANCE AS PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT ELECT, IS SWORN IN ON 20 JAN 09 AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (NAACP) CELEBRATES ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2009. FEW HAVE MADE COMPARABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS NATION'S JOURNEY TO REALIZE ITS PROMISE OF FREEDOM AND EQUALITY AS DR. KING. HIS STRONG, NONVIOLENT LEADERSHIP DURING TUMULTUOUS TIMES IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY HELPED TO IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AMERICANS. ON THIS ANNUAL HOLIDAY, WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF A MAN WHO BROUGHT HOPE TO ALL AMERICANS THAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS.
3. MARINES HONOR DR. KING'S DREAM AS WE CONTINUE TO SERVE SELFLESSLY AND PROUDLY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, ALWAYS GUIDED BY OUR CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT. BY DOING SO, WE CONTINUE TO SUCCEED IN OUR MISSION OF LEADING MARINES, AND WINNING BATTLES.
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.//