Monday, Jan. 21 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

For some, the national holiday honoring the prominent civil rights activist is a time to give back and serve the community, be it through removing graffiti or picking up litter in a local park.

Dozens of Upper St. Clair students will be gathering at the Community and Recreation Center to work on a variety of community service projects on their day off from school.

For others, it’s an opportunity to educate themselves about King and his life's work. And for others, it’s a time to just kick back and enjoy the prolonged weekend.

So, tell us—What does Martin Luther King Jr. Day mean to you? What are you doing to commemorate King’s legacy?

The Holiday's History

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, now a U.S. holiday, took 15 years to create.

Legislation was first proposed by Congressman John Conyers (D-Michigan) four days after King was assassinated in 1968.

The bill was stalled, but Conyers, along with Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-New York), pushed for the holiday every legislative session until it was finally passed in 1983, following civil rights marches in Washington. 

Then-president Ronald Reagan signed it into law. Yet it was not until 2000 that every U.S. state celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day by its name. Before then, states like Utah referred to the holiday more broadly as Human Rights Day. 

Now, the Corporation for National and Community Service has declared it an official U.S. Day of Service.

What's Closed

• Upper St. Clair School District (teacher in-service)
• Most banks
• Federal, state, and Allegheny County offices and courts
• Pennsylvania driver license of and photo center are closed Saturday Jan. 19 through Mon. Jan 21.
• State Liquor stores
• Post offices (No mail delivery except for Express Mail)

What's Open

• Upper St. Clair Library
• Upper St. Clair Community and Recreation Center
• Upper St. Clair Township offices
• The Port Authority is running regular bus, T and incline weekday service, but the downtown service center is closed.

What closings/openings did we miss? Tell us in the comments.