Gov. Patrick Promotes Service On MLK Day

Communities across Massachusetts, and the nation, remembered Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday — the federal holiday celebrating his birth.

Gov. Deval Patrick participated in community service events with the state's eighth-graders over the weekend as part of an effort to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Speaking with Morning Edition's Bob Oakes, Patrick said that Dr. King should be remembered through community service.

"Service was central to Dr. King's message," Patrick said. "One of his famous quotes — among many — was that, 'Life's most persistent and urging message was what are you doing for others.' "

In November, Patrick was the first black governor in the nation's history to be re-elected to a second term. Patrick said that while the city has made in-roads in race relations, it still has work to do.

"The work of integration, the work of successful community building, is never finished," Patrick said. "It's a relay race in some ways. It's a relay race for justice."