Today is a day of service as the country remembers and honors Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. The day became a federal holiday in 1983, and in 1994 Congress designated the holiday as a national day of service. People are asked to use this day away from work to help their communities by volunteering. In observance of the Federal holiday banks are closed, as are many businesses and offices. U.S. Post Offices are closed and will not deliver mail.