Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Safety Message

By U.S. ArmyJanuary 15, 2016

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Each year on the third Monday in January, our Nation commemorates the life, legacy, and dream of one of our most respected leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A clergyman, an activist and a leader in the African-American civil rights movement, Dr. King dedicated his life to advancing civil rights. Coretta Scott King once said, "The greatest birthday gift my husband could receive is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds celebrated the day by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others." The national theme for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. observance is: "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!" When we celebrate this holiday, we are recognizing the countless contributions of a man who brought hope and healing to our Nation and honor the values he exemplified in his life as well as his teachings--courage, truth, respect, integrity, humility, and service; the same values that make our country strong! Dr. King's strength and purpose are matched by those of our Soldiers, representing Americans of all ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds.

The holiday weekend offers each of us not only an opportunity to honor Dr. King's legacy, but to keep his dream alive by passing it onto our children and the next generation. One way to do this is by participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The Martin Luther King Day of Service is part of United We Serve, and is an opportunity for federal agencies to collaborate in the spirit of the President's Task Force on Expanding National Service. If you plan to travel to volunteer and/or participate in the various MLK Day celebration events, remember the decisions you make before and during travel can save your life and the lives of others. Make sure your vehicle is winterized, check weather forecasts, take along an emergency kit with extra clothing, and drive appropriately for the weather conditions. The Travel Risk Planning System (TRiPS) is an excellent vehicle accident prevention tool for assessing a person's risk. While not mandatory for DA Civilians (unless on TDY or PCS), it is for all Soldiers. TRiPS can be accessed at https://safety.army.mil/.

Remember to plan your holiday weekend activities with an eye toward minimizing hazards and risk. As you celebrate this significant holiday, I ask each of you remain aware so that you can return to work rested and ready to support our AMC and Army missions. Therefore, I ask each of you remain vigilant of the safety risks life presents to us each day.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a special holiday that provides a great opportunity to honor Dr. King's vision through a day of community service. You are part of the AMC community making our Army stronger, more capable, and more effective. Please keep this in mind as you have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.

AMC SAFE IS ARMY STRONG!

DENNIS L. VIA

General, USA

Commanding