LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the observance of the 25th National
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to honor and pay tribute
to the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and
WHEREAS, Across this great State and Nation, many events were held on
January 18, 2010, to recognize the 25th National Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day; this year's theme "Saluting Greatness: The Legacy of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. serves as an excellent rallying point to continue the
dialogue that transmits the message of the virtues Dr. King and Mrs.
King stood for, such as selflessness, sacrifice, determination, dignity
and equality; their lives were committed to the service of others for
the greater good; and
WHEREAS, People of all ages and backgrounds came together to improve
lives, bridge social barriers, and move our Nation closer to the
"Beloved Community" that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned; he
devoted his life's work to causes of equality and social justice; and
WHEREAS, Born the grandson of a slave into a segregated society in
Atlanta, Georgia, on January 15, 1929, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was
instrumental in formulating the policy which ultimately led to the Amer-
ican Civil Rights Movement nationwide; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wanted us to remember him as a
person who tried to live his life serving others, that he tried to love
somebody, and that he tried to love and serve humanity; and
WHEREAS, Dr. King taught that through nonviolence and service to one
another, problems such as hunger and homelessness, prejudice and
discrimination can be overcome; his teachings can continue to guide us
in addressing America's most pressing needs of poverty, economic insecu-
rity, job loss and education; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a vital figure of the modern
era; his lectures and dialogues stirred the concern and sparked the
conscience of a generation; and
WHEREAS, The movements and marches Dr. King led brought significant
changes to the fabric of American life through his courage and selfless
devotion; this devotion gave direction to 13 years of civil rights
activities, and his charismatic leadership inspired men and women, young
and old, throughout the United States and around the world; and
WHEREAS, Dr. King's concept of "somebodiness," which symbolized the
celebration of human worth and the conquest of subjugation, gave Afri-
can-Americans and the poor hope and a sense of dignity; his philosophy
of nonviolent direct action and his strategies for rational and non-des-
tructive social change, galvanized the conscience of America and reor-
dered its priorities; his wisdom, his words, his actions, his commit-
ment, and his dream for a new way of life are intertwined with the
American experience; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the common and
shared responsibility of governance demands an irrevocable commitment to
the preservation and enhancement of human dignity as exemplified by Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the observance of the 25th National Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day.