Politics & Government

Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Aberdeen

How will you spend the day? Jan. 21 is a federal holiday.

Jan. 21 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and that means government closings to allow for remembrance of the civil rights activist.

In observance of Monday's holiday, municipal offices in Aberdeen are closed, as is Harford County government. Aberdeen Proving Ground Federal Credit Union will be closed Jan. 21 too.

Trash collection will stay on schedule in Aberdeen.

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Major General Robert Ferrell of Aberdeen Proving Ground said that many commands will be closed for the day but that Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision will be at work in Abereen even on a day off.

"...at Team APG, many are dedicated both to public service and to volunteering with organizations that support our families and communities all throughout the year," Ferrell wrote in the Jan. 17 edition of APG News.

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Continued Ferrell: "...I want to express my admiration and thanks for all you do to make APG such a great community and our Armed Forces a place where Martin Luther King’s dream remains alive and well."

How will you spend MLK Day in Aberdeen? Tell us in the comments.

For some, the national holiday honoring the prominent civil rights activist is a time to give back and learn about King and his life's work.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, now a U.S. holiday, took 15 years to create.

Legislation was first proposed by Congressman John Conyers (D-Michigan) four days after King was assassinated in 1968. It was finally passed in 1983, following civil rights marches in Washington. Then-president Ronald Reagan signed it into law.

It was not until 2000 that every U.S. state celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day by its name. Before then, states like Utah referred to the holiday more broadly as Human Rights Day. Now, the Corporation for National and Community Service has declared it an official U.S. Day of Service.


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