ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 071508Z JAN 02 ZYB MIN PSN 286016J23
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS //N05354//
NAVADMIN 001/02
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/N1//
 
SUBJ/DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE//
 
RMKS/1.  MONDAY, 21 JAN 02, WILL MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. NATIONAL HOLIDAY.  THE THEME FOR THE 2002
KING HOLIDAY CELEBRATION IS "REMEMBER!  CELEBRATE!  ACT!  A DAY ON,
NOT A DAY OFF."
 
2.  18-21 JAN 02 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE PERIOD TO
COMMEMORATE THE ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY
OBSERVANCE, WHICH IS CELEBRATED IN SOME FORM IN MORE THAN 100
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.  WE PAUSE TO COMMEMORATE DR. KING'S
LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO PEACE AND JUSTICE, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF
RECENT EVENTS SINCE SEPTEMBER 11 WHERE OUR NATION AND OUR NAVY HAVE
BEEN CHALLENGED TO COME TOGETHER AND REVITALIZE OUR COMMITMENT
TOWARD MAINTAINING THE PEACE AND FREEDOM THAT ALL OF HUMANITY
CHERISHES.  IN 1963, DR. KING WROTE IN "STRENGTH TO LOVE," "THE
ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE, BUT WHERE HE STANDS AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE
AND CONTROVERSY.  THE TRUE NEIGHBOR WILL RISK HIS POSITION, HIS
PRESTIGE AND EVEN HIS LIFE FOR THE WELFARE OF OTHERS.  IN DANGEROUS
VALLEYS AND HAZARDOUS PATHWAYS, HE WILL LIFT SOME BRUISED AND BEATEN
BROTHER TO A HIGHER AND MORE NOBLE LIFE."  AS A SERVANT OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE U.S. NAVY IS COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THESE BASIC
PRINCIPLES OF PERSONAL SACRIFICE, JUSTICE, AND EQUALITY TO WHICH DR.
KING DEVOTED HIS LIFE.
 
3.  OUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF RECENTLY ADDRESSED THE CREW OF USS
ENTERPRISE STATING:  "THERE IS A GREAT DIVIDE IN OUR TIME -- NOT
BETWEEN RELIGIONS OR CULTURES, BUT BETWEEN CIVILIZATION AND
BARBARISM.  PEOPLE OF ALL CULTURES WISH TO LIVE IN SAFETY AND
DIGNITY.  THE HOPE OF JUSTICE AND MERCY AND BETTER LIVES ARE COMMON
TO ALL HUMANITY."  THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO DR. KING'S WORDS WHICH RING
TRUE TODAY, DEDICATING HIS LIFE TO OVERCOME THE GREAT DIVIDE OF
SEGREGATION DURING HIS TIME.  TODAY, AS MUCH AS ANY TIME IN OUR
NATION'S AND NAVY'S HISTORY, WE SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO REMEMBER THE
VALUES AND IDEAS HE FOUGHT FOR AS WE OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES OF OUR
PRESENT WORLD BRINGING TOGETHER AND RESPECTING ALL RACES, GENDERS,
AGES, RELIGIONS, BELIEFS, AND VALUES.  MAHATMA GANDHI, INDIA'S
NATIONALIST LEADER SAID, "WE MUST BECOME THE CHANGE WE WISH TO SEE IN
THE WORLD."  WE MUST EMBRACE INCLUSION WHICH DR. KING CHAMPIONED AND
THE NAVY SUPPORTS TODAY.
 
4.  COMMANDS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO COMMEMORATE THE DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT MISSION COMMITMENTS
AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES.  MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION BY ALL CIVILIAN AND
MILITARY PERSONNEL SHOULD BE PROMOTED THROUGH PROGRAMS, EXHIBITS,
AND PUBLISHED ITEMS OF INTEREST IN COMMAND BULLETINS.  PARTICIPATION
IN LOCAL COMMUNITY OBSERVANCES IS ALSO HIGHLY ENCOURAGED.
 
5.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE NAVY WEBSITE:
WWW.BUPERS.NAVY.MIL/MENTOR.  POC IS LT WILLIE HARBERT AT
(703) 695-2824/DSN 225; E-MAIL:  P00J3@BUPERS.NAVY.MIL.
 
6.  RELEASED BY VADM NORB RYAN, JR., N1.//
 
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