Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed today, recognizes not only a celebrated American, but a compassionate activity - service to others.
The federal holiday honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was created in 1984, but it took on added significance in 1994 when Congress designated it a national day of service.
The Corporation for National and Community Service, which coordinates MLK Day activities, said the observance "empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King's vision of a beloved community."
The operative phrase in that statement is volunteerism "empowers individuals." Service is uplifting and, as a result, widely practiced.
Research from the community service group found:
• Generation X leads volunteering among generations. Americans aged 35-44 had the highest volunteer rate (29.8 percent) followed by those aged 45-54 (28.5 percent).
• One in five (21.7 percent) of millennials (aged 16-32) volunteered.
• Older Americans, including baby boomers and members of the Silent Generation, tend to volunteer more hours.
• The volunteer rate of parents with children under age 18 is higher than the national average at 31.6 percent.
• More than one-third of Americans (36.3 percent) are involved in a school, civic, recreational, religious or other organization. Americans most frequently volunteer with religious groups (34 percent), followed closely by education or youth service groups, and social or community groups.
Service also rewards volunteers in many ways, including easing the path to employment.
Research by the group also found volunteers have a 27 percent higher likelihood of finding a job after being out of work than non-volunteers. In addition, volunteers without a high school diploma have a 51 percent higher likelihood of finding employment.
Service is a cornerstone of the legacy of King, who once said: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: "What are you doing for others?'"
It's a question we all should ask ourselves, particularly on this day.