Governor Chet Culver is encouraging Iowans to learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior. Culver helped lead a MLK Jr. Day ceremony today at the Iowa Historical Building in Des Moines.
The Governor, with several children seated on steps behind him, issued two challenges to those in attendance. "Number one, I think it’s important for all of us to learn more about his life," Culver said. "And number two, I think we should try to learn more from his life."
The Governor signed a proclamation, declaring January 21st through the 28th as "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Week in Iowa." This is the 19th year for a state of Iowa MLK Jr. Day Ceremony.
"The point is, we can do a lot more than congregate once a year. We’ve done this 19 times and that is critically important, but I think (Dr. King) would be more pleased if we actually tried to live the lessons that he taught us…but you have to earn them first," Culver said.
Today’s ceremony included a keynote address from Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Leonard Pitts, Jr.