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Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day — a federal and an ASG holiday

MLK BANNER
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu P.S. Mauga in a memorandum issued earlier this week wrote that Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, will be observed as a holiday in American Samoa.

 “All government offices will be closed and normal activities will be suspended on that day.

 “Employees of the American Samoa Government who are not required to perform essential services shall be excused from their duties.

 “Employees required to perform duty on that day will receive holiday wages in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

 Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to honor and commemorate the legacy of Dr. King who made unparalleled contributions to racial justice.

 “I encourage you all to take time to reflect on his life and values and may it inspire us all to volunteer to help improve our community.”

 Samoa News will observe MLK Day, and our office will not be open on Monday, nor will we be publishing an edition or a PDF. Any breaking news will be available on our website and Facebook pages.

 Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata released the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

“The life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had a tremendous impact on our nation, and he built for us an enduring understanding of equality for all. Each of us benefits today from his noble work and ideals. He is permanently honored with a powerful Memorial on our National Mall in the nation’s capital city, and with this important federal holiday, one of only 11 such major holidays enshrined in law.

 “He served as a preacher as well as a great civil rights leader, and we thank God for his legacy. We still cite his many letters and speeches, which have only grown in influence with time. He was committed to the most effective advocacy, achieved through peace, and his example should remain a guideway to even our most passionate national debates.

 “One of his many powerful quotations is this, ‘The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.’”

This holiday has also been called the Martin Luther King Day of Service where Americans come together to serve their neighbors and communities through volunteer service.