By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, and during his short time on earth, he changed our nation forever through his leadership, service, and clarity of vision; and

WHEREAS, as a reverend and a civil rights activist, Dr. King devoted his life to strengthening the content of the American character and appealed to our nation to hold firm to our Declaration of Independence and its founding principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all citizens; and

WHEREAS, through his preaching, leadership, and service, Dr. King challenged Americans to live up to the promise of freedom, equality, opportunity, and brotherhood; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King’s life was cut short before his fortieth birthday by the violence he championed against, further reinforcing the gravity of upholding the banner that he so courageously carried; and

WHEREAS, having sacrificed his life for his cause, the greatest tribute we can pay Dr. King is to continue his work by striving for the day when the dignity and humanity of every person is respected; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King had a strong connection to Virginia, with visits to cities such as Danville, Gloucester, Hampton Roads, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond; and

WHEREAS, ten years before the date was observed as a national holiday, the City of Petersburg passed an ordinance in August 1973 designating January 15th as a city holiday to commemorate Dr. King’s birth; and

WHEREAS, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission, a statutory and bipartisan agency of the Virginia General Assembly, was created in 1992 to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. King, and for many years the commission has furthered the memory and philosophy of Dr. King; and

WHEREAS, in 2001, Dr. King became the first African American to be permanently memorialized on Virginia’s Capital Square, where a memorial stone and tree have been placed and planted in his honor; and

WHEREAS, an iconic leader and hero of the American Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. continues to inspire people throughout the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world through his vision, words, and strength of character;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize January 20, 2025, as MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.