Martin Luther King's Birthday ... AND ... Robert E. Lee's Birthday (!)

[Kablooie]

TO THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
WHEREAS, the Legislature has designated the third Monday in January as the day for the observance of the birthdays of ROBERT E. LEE and DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., and under the provisions of Section 3-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is a legal holiday in the State of Mississippi;

THEREFORE, all officers and employees of the State of Mississippi are authorized and empowered, at the discretion of the executive head of the department or agency, to close their respective offices in observance of the holiday on

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2010
GIVEN under my hand and seal of office at Jackson, Mississippi, this the 4th day of January, 2010.


C. DELBERT HOSEMANN, JR.
SECRETARY OF STATE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

http://www.sos.state.ms.us/ed_pubs/Proclamations/King.asp

[TexasTowelie]

1. Texas used to have Robert E. Lee's birthday as a state holiday.

It was then moved to a fixed date each month and was as Confederate Heroe's Day. I think the employees still have the option of taking either that day off or MLK day.

[LuvNewcastle]

2. It was a state holiday here in Mississippi too.

If I remember correctly. they were going to drop R.E. Lee's birthday in favor of MLK day, but some people raised hell about it. There were some people who didn't want to observe MLK day at all. Combining the two holidays was a compromise to get the legislature to vote for the new holiday. There are still some assholes who run around saying "happy Robert E. Lee's birthday" every year to show their opposition.