Gov. Inslee proclaims Jan. 16, 2023 MLK Day of Service in Washington state

OLYMPIA—Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed Monday, Jan. 16 as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service in the state of Washington.

MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service that encourages people across America to volunteer to improve their communities.

Read the full text of the proclamation below:

The State of Washington Proclamation

Proclamation

WHEREAS, on January 16, 2023, our state and nation will honor the life and work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King's dedication to serving others is an inspiration to us all and a call to confront and eliminate injustice; and

WHEREAS, each ofus can contribute to strengthening our own communities and help

realize Dr. King's dream by serving our communities on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and by making service part of our daily lives; and

WHEREAS, we must carry forward Dr. King's powerful message, because hope for a

safe and livable world requires that we overcome discrimination and commit ourselves to

service, justice, peace, equality, and community; and

WHEREAS, together, we can ensure that more young people graduate from high school, we can provide healthier futures for Americans of all ages, we can support our military families and

veterans, we can protect our environment, and we can increase employment, financial stability, and affordable housing; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jay Inslee, Governor of the state of Washington, do hereby

proclaim January 16, 2023, as

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

in Washington, and I urge all people in our state to join me in answering Dr. King's call to

service by spending the holiday named after him as a "a day on and not a day off'.

Signed this 16th day of January 2023