Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/4611

124 STAT. 4585 PROCLAMATION 8473—JAN. 15, 2010 pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty- fourth. BARACK OBAMA 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 rec- ognize 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 suc- cess—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 gen- eration of leaders. We must fortify their ladders of opportunity by cor- recting social injustice, breaking the cycle of poverty in struggling com- munities, 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 Mar- tin 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 gen- erosity 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 con- tribute to this effort to visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/HaitiEarthquake. By lifting up our brothers and sisters through dedication and service—