Around the country and the world on Monday, groups and organizations marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day with parades, acts of remembrance, and service.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., would have celebrated his 81st birthday in 2010 and it is the 25th anniversary of the national holiday in his honor. The day is celebrated in all 50 states and over 100 countries around the world. State, federal, and most private offices are close on the holiday, but many events emphasize public service with the official theme, “A Day On, Not a Day Off.”
In Atlanta, the King Center held their annual commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church. It featured tributes to the life and legacy of Dr. King from national and international leaders.
Speakers and guests for 2010 included Dr. Cornel West, U.S. Sen. Johnny Isaacson, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, King Center Vice Chair/Treasurer Christine King Farris, and Elder Bernice A. King.
“The theme [of the holiday] reiterates the importance of remembering Dr. King’s work and legacy, celebrating his birthday as a national holiday and acting on his teachings and principles of nonviolence and human rights,” states the King Center on its Web site. They add that “it also serves as a reminder that the holiday is a day on for community service initiatives and programs promoting interracial cooperation, not just a day off from work or school.”
In Denver, the largest parade in the country for the holiday drew a crowd of about 20,000, according to media reports.
In Miami, a warehouse for Haiti relief operations was opened by Christian relief organization World Vision, a development organization that says they are putting Martin Luther King Jr.’s “message of hope and potential for all people into action.”
The 90,000 sq. ft. warehouse will be used to house emergency and recovery goods donated for victims of the earthquake that struck Haiti Jan. 12. World Vision is using this opportunity to introduce the facility to the public and to area businesses to encourage their involvement in relief efforts.
“We need to come together and collaborate effectively to have a bigger impact in Haiti,” stated Haitian Pastor David Augustin of Miami Vineyard Community Church in a press release. “Individual churches are doing their own small things, which is good, but that’s a small rock making a small ripple in a big ocean. We need to come together and have a much bigger impact as soon as we can, demonstrating God’s love and care.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., would have celebrated his 81st birthday in 2010 and it is the 25th anniversary of the national holiday in his honor. The day is celebrated in all 50 states and over 100 countries around the world. State, federal, and most private offices are close on the holiday, but many events emphasize public service with the official theme, “A Day On, Not a Day Off.”
In Atlanta, the King Center held their annual commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church. It featured tributes to the life and legacy of Dr. King from national and international leaders.
Speakers and guests for 2010 included Dr. Cornel West, U.S. Sen. Johnny Isaacson, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, King Center Vice Chair/Treasurer Christine King Farris, and Elder Bernice A. King.
“The theme [of the holiday] reiterates the importance of remembering Dr. King’s work and legacy, celebrating his birthday as a national holiday and acting on his teachings and principles of nonviolence and human rights,” states the King Center on its Web site. They add that “it also serves as a reminder that the holiday is a day on for community service initiatives and programs promoting interracial cooperation, not just a day off from work or school.”
In Denver, the largest parade in the country for the holiday drew a crowd of about 20,000, according to media reports.
In Miami, a warehouse for Haiti relief operations was opened by Christian relief organization World Vision, a development organization that says they are putting Martin Luther King Jr.’s “message of hope and potential for all people into action.”
The 90,000 sq. ft. warehouse will be used to house emergency and recovery goods donated for victims of the earthquake that struck Haiti Jan. 12. World Vision is using this opportunity to introduce the facility to the public and to area businesses to encourage their involvement in relief efforts.
“We need to come together and collaborate effectively to have a bigger impact in Haiti,” stated Haitian Pastor David Augustin of Miami Vineyard Community Church in a press release. “Individual churches are doing their own small things, which is good, but that’s a small rock making a small ripple in a big ocean. We need to come together and have a much bigger impact as soon as we can, demonstrating God’s love and care.”
