Peachtree

City will be the first municipality in Fayette

County to have an official event honoring the

late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when a 70th

birthday ceremony for the slain civil rights

leader is conducted Monday morning at City Hall.

The

city is planning the 11 a.m. ceremony in

conjunction with the Fayette County NAACP to

recognize the contributions King made to all

humanity in his struggle for civil rights and

racial equality. Peachtree City is the first

administration in Fayette County to recognize and

formally celebrate the holiday.

Mayor

Bob Lenox, Mayor Pro Tempore Annie McMenamin and

Fayette NAACP President the Rev. Edward J.

Johnson announced the event in a Dec. 16 press

conference.

The

holiday was designated in 1986, making King the

only American other than George Washington whose

birthday is considered a national holiday.

"King remains one of the few social leaders

honored with a holiday on an international

level," according to a written statement

issued by the city.

Johnson

said last week that he hopes to have a special

guest who worked with King speak at the ceremony.

"Many

people only think of it [the holiday] as a day

off, if their companies give them a day

off," said Johnson.

All

Fayette County residents are encouraged to

attend.

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