Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service
Topics
Cross-posted from: GovInfo
Note: GovInfo published this feature about the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service last year. The description of the holiday is still relevant, and we wanted to share it with HIV.gov readers as we prepare to honor Dr. King.
Observed the third Monday in January, celebrating the life and legacy of the Civil Rights leader, as well as a commitment to service, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example — the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.
“The greatest birthday gift my husband could receive is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds celebrated the holiday by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others.”
- Coretta Scott King, Source: National Park Service
On August 27, 1984, President Reagan established a commission (98 Stat. 1473) (PDF, 439KB) to assist in the first observance of the Federal legal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., and on January 18, 1986, President Reagan signed Proclamation 5431 (100 Stat. 4396), (PDF, 378KB) marking the first observance of his birthday a national holiday.
On August 23, 1994, President Clinton signed the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act (108 Stat. 1565) (PDF, 640KB), expanding the mission of the holiday as a day of community service, interracial cooperation and youth anti-violence initiatives. In 1999, Title 4, United States Code, (113 Stat. 1285) (PDF, 137KB), was amended to add the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to the list of days on which the flag should be displayed.
| Ideas from HIV.gov: Want to get involved in HIV-related efforts? See our Getting Involved page for ideas. Represent an organization? Take advantage of this day to recruit and train volunteers or help others find an HIV testing location. Use locator.HIV.gov to find HIV testing sites near you. |
Additional Resources
AmeriCorps is the federal agency charged with leading the “MLK Day of Service” effort, encouraging Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Check out AmeriCorps’ website and find out ways you can engage with your community while honoring Dr. King’s legacy.
Connect with a cause you care about on the Volunteer.gov website. Managed by federal agencies, use their portal to find volunteer opportunities across the country.
Browse photographs of Dr. King on the Library of Congress' Online Prints and Photograph Catalog.
Plan a visit to the National Museum of African American Culture and History in Washington D.C.Exit Disclaimer and see the exhibition "A Changing America: 1968 and Beyond,Exit Disclaimer" which “explores contemporary black life through stories about the social, economic, political, and cultural experiences of African Americans.”
In honor of the birthday of Dr. King, National Park Service sites will have free admission for everyone on [2025 DATE: Monday, January 20, 2025], as the first fee-free day of the year. Visit the National Park Service's website for details. The National Park Service asks that you recreate responsibly and check the park's website for hours of operations and other trip planning information.