    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    PROCLAMATION 8473--JAN. 15, 2010

    Proclamation 8473 of January 15, 2010
    Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 2010
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation

    The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., challenged our Nation to
    recognize that our individual liberty relies upon our common equality.
    In communities marred by division and injustice, the movement he built
    from the ground up forced open doors to negotiation. The strength of his
    leadership was matched only by the power of his words, which still call
    on us to perfect those sacred ideals enshrined in our founding
    documents.
    ``We have an opportunity to make America a better Nation,'' Dr. King
    said on the eve of his death. ``I may not get there with you. But I want
    you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised
    land.'' Though we have made great strides since the turbulent era of Dr.
    King's movement, his work and our journey remain unfinished. Only when
    our children are free to pursue their full measure of success--
    unhindered by the color of their skin, their gender, the faith in their
    heart, the people they love, or the fortune of their birth--will we have
    reached our destination.
    Today, we are closer to fulfilling America's promise of economic and
    social justice because we stand on the shoulders of giants like Dr.
    King, yet our future progress will depend on how we prepare our next
    generation of leaders. We must fortify their ladders of opportunity by
    correcting social injustice, breaking the cycle of poverty in struggling
    communities, and reinvesting in our schools. Education can unlock a
    child's potential and remains our strongest weapon against injustice and
    inequality.
    Recognizing that our Nation has yet to reach Dr. King's promised land is
    not an admission of defeat, but a call to action. In these challenging
    times, too many Americans face limited opportunities, but our capacity
    to support each other remains limitless. Today, let us ask ourselves
    what Dr. King believed to be life's most urgent and persistent question:
    ``What are you doing for others?'' Visit www.MLKDay.gov to find Martin
    Luther King, Jr., Day of Service projects across our country.
    Dr. King devoted his life to serving others, and his message transcends
    national borders. The devastating earthquake in Haiti, and the urgent
    need for humanitarian support, reminds us that our service and
    generosity of spirit must also extend beyond our immediate communities.
    As our Government continues to bring our resources to bear on the
    international emergency in Haiti, I ask all Americans who want to
    contribute to this effort to visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/HaitiEarthquake.
    By lifting up our brothers and sisters through dedication and service--

    [[Page 4586]]

    both at home and around the world--we honor Dr. King's memory and
    reaffirm our common humanity.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 18, 2010, as
    the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans
    to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service
    programs in honor of Dr. King's life and lasting legacy.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of
    January, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
    fourth.

    BARACK OBAMA