Today, HUD will be commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a 10:00 AM celebration in the HUD cafeteria. Please join Secretary Jackson, Deputy Secretary Bernardi, and our special guest, Carol Randolph, to commemorate this very special day.

On Saturday, January 15, the nation will mark the 76th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Even though nearly four decades have passed since his death, Dr. King remains relevant. His words and actions still inspire us, and his legacy lives on.

At HUD, we celebrate that legacy every day. The Fair Housing Act rests at the heart of so much of our work, and Congress passed it in tribute to Dr. King just one week after his assassination.

On Monday, January 17, please consider honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King by making the holiday "a day on, not a day off." Hundreds of thousands of Americans will spend the day participating in service projects in their communities, because as Dr. King himself once said, "Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve."

We should also honor his memory by remembering the continuing struggle for freedom, justice, and peace for which he gave his life. We can talk with our children and our grandchildren about his legacy, and share the importance of his life. Each of us owes a debt of gratitude to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King for lifting America out of its shameful past. He left this world far too soon, but his vision of America as a land of hope and opportunity for all endures.