Commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This Monday, January 20th 2014, is Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an excellent opportunity for Americans to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. 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 harmonious society.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a perfect example of a leader that children and adults alike can be proud to emulate on the day of his birth and all year round. The values and goals Dr. King promoted still ring true today and can be realized through recommitting ourselves to community service.

After a long struggle, legislation was signed in 1983 creating a federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems.

Dr King once said, ‘Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?’ It’s important that we all remember this very powerful message and strive to make positive change in our society no matter how big or small, everyday of the year. For more information about Martin Luther King Day celebrations in your area or how to get involved please visit http://mlkday.gov/.