Coretta Scott King asks people to fulfill dream with service

Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King Jr., has written a call to service in memory of her slain husband. The complete essay can be found online at www.thekingcenter. org, but here are some excerpts:

The Meaning of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday:

"The holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example - the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service...

"On this day we commemorate Dr. King's great dream of a vibrant, multiracial nation united in justice, peace and reconciliation...

"No other day of the year brings so many peoples from different cultural backgrounds together...Whether you are African-American, Hispanic or Native American, whether you are Caucasian or Asian- American, you are part of the great dream Martin Luther King Jr. had for America...

"Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not only for celebration and remembrance, education and tribute, but above all a day of service. All across America on the holiday, his followers perform service in hospitals and shelters and prisons and wherever people need some help.

"It is a day of volunteering to feed the hungry, rehabilitate housing, tutoring those who can't read, mentoring at-risk youngsters, consoling the broken hearted and a thousand other projects for building the beloved community of his dream."

Mark 9:35 "Whosoever will be great among you shall be your servant; and whosoever among you will be the first shall be the servant of all."