Community Corner
Jan. 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2012
Five things every Lemonter should know for Monday's national holiday.
Every year, citizens around the United States take a day off in January to honor the birthday of civil rights hero Martin Luther King, Jr. Here are five things every Lemonter should know about the national holiday:
1. A Brief History of MLK Day
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a prominent activist and clergyman in the African-American civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, and in 1963 he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington D.C. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was declared a federal holiday in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan. It was first observed Jan. 20, 1986, and in 1992, President George H.W. Bush declared that the holiday would be observed on the third Monday of January. All 50 holidays observed the holiday for the first time in 2000.
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2. Schools Closed
All Lemont schools are closed today, including , , , , , and the .
3. Village Hall, Post Office, Banks Closed
All government offices, including and the U.S. Postal Service, are closed today. Several banks are also closed. Offices will re-open Tuesday.
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4. Library Remains Open
While many area libraries close for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the , 50 E. Wend St. is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
5. TV Specials
Several television specials honoring Dr. King and other civil rights activists will air Monday:
- 1 p.m. - The History Channel and host Tom Brokaw take viewers through the life and times of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in "King."
- 3 p.m. - "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (OWN) will air "The Dream Lives: A Martin Luther King Day Special" in honor of the holiday.
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