Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday: A day on, not a day off

  • Published
  • By Capt. Anthony Carter
  • 27th Special Operations Aerospace Medicine Squadron
As Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches, many of us are deciding which activities to participate in on our day off, that we forget to reflect on the meaning behind this special celebration. The purpose of the holiday is to empower people to see their role in continuing the legacy of King. This holiday is an instrument used to inspire individuals to use their strengths, passions and talents to better the lives of others and impact their local and global communities.

In 1983, legislation was signed creating a federal holiday marking the birth of King. This extraordinary holiday is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is close to the birthday of King, Jan. 15. President Bill Clinton signed federal legislation into law Aug. 23, 1994, making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national day of service. The federal legislation challenges Americans to transform this holiday into a day of citizen action and volunteer service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

When I reflect on this day and what it means, a quote from the late widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. comes to mind.

"(The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday) is a day of interracial and intercultural cooperation and sharing," Coretta Scott King said. "No other day of the year brings so many peoples from different cultural backgrounds together in such a vibrant spirit of brother and sisterhood. Whether you are African-American, Hispanic or Native American, whether you are Caucasian or Asian-American, you are part of the great dream Martin Luther King, Jr. had for America. This is not a black holiday; it is a peoples' holiday. And it is the young people of all races and religions who hold the keys to the fulfillment of his dream."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a holiday for everyone. It is a chance for everyone to honor the life and teachings of King through community service. That service may meet a tangible need, such as collecting food for the less fortunate, or it may exhibit the spirit of the holiday, such as building a sense of community. It is up to you to make a change. What mark will you leave on your community?