The other Martin Luther King Jr. holiday: how it's observed
It鈥檚 that time of year again, and we don鈥檛 mean the NFL postseason. Yes, Martin Luther King Day is upon us.
As many Americans know, the King commemoration is an unusual holiday in a number of respects. It鈥檚 one of only three federally authorized celebrations of individuals, the others being Washington鈥檚 Birthday and Columbus Day. It鈥檚 the newest US holiday, created in 1983. It鈥檚 been bolstered for 2012 by the opening of the new King memorial on the National Mall in Washington.
But here鈥檚 something many citizens may not know: It is really two holidays in one.
There鈥檚 the overall King Day, set in 鈥�83 when President Reagan signed a bill putting it in federal law. And there鈥檚 the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, established when President Clinton signed the King Holiday and Service Act of 1994. King Service Day is meant to be a day of personal action in Dr. King鈥檚 memory on or near his holiday 鈥� as its boosters say, a day on, not a day off. It鈥檚 promoted by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that also runs AmeriCorps and similar initiatives.
Last year in Philadelphia, for instance, computer professionals got together to donate used PCs to city families who lacked Internet access. In Washington, President Obama and his kids helped paint a middle school. In Des Moines, Iowa, members of Habitat for Humanity built 25 sheds for needy homeowners.
Many cities have organized King Service Day efforts. Philadelphia may be the most notable example: This year organizers expect to attract 85,000 volunteers to some 1,300 projects.
But if your city isn鈥檛 doing that, or if you don鈥檛 live in a city, you can go to the official King Service Day website (mlkday.gov), enter your Zip Code, and find projects that are asking for volunteers.
Or organize your own. Plant trees in your neighborhood. Organize a book drive. Write letters to troops (the King website has tips on what to say and where to send them).
As King himself said, 鈥淟ife鈥檚 most persistent and urgent question is, 鈥榃hat are you doing for others?鈥� 鈥�
