[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--

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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