2012 marks the 25th year that King County and its employees will honor the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and celebrate his vision of an America offering opportunity for all.

The public is invited to join King County employees at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle for the county’s free Silver Anniversary celebration at noon on Thursday, January 12.

Speakers at the celebration will include King County Executive Dow Constantine, County Council Chair Larry Gossett and former King County Council member Bruce Laing, one of the leaders who worked to rename the county in honor of Dr. King 25 years ago.

The celebration will include musical performances by Abráce, a Seattle-based group that builds inter-cultural understanding through music, along with the reunited MLK Employee Singers, county employees who have performed at previous celebrations.

County employees were asked to be part of the Silver Anniversary celebration by reflecting on this year’s theme, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” Some of those reflections will be shared at the event. The event will also feature the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Essay Award ceremony, sponsored by the King County Civil Rights Commission.

Benaroya Hall is accessible. Sign language interpretation will be provided. Other reasonable accommodations will be provided upon advance request. For more information or to request reasonable accommodations, please contact Bailey de Iongh in the King County Office of Civil Rights at 206-296-7652.