The nation marks the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination this year and on Monday, Jan. 21, we'll celebrate his life during Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Dr. King once said, "Life's persistent and most urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

We suggest that the best way for all of us to answer that question this year is to make the King holiday "a day on, not a day off."

Members of the King family, professional athletes, Fortune 500 companies, and dozens of national nonprofits including United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and Boys and Girls Clubs also have joined the King Center and the Corporation for National and Community Service in calling on Americans to honor Dr. King by serving others on his holiday.

This year the King Center expects the largest ever participation in the King Day of Service, ever since Congress passed legislation in 1994 encouraging the holiday to be a national day of service. Hundreds of thousands of Americans will honor Dr. King on Monday by volunteering in a wide range of projects - from building homes to delivering meals to tutoring students.

We like the concept of making King's holiday a day to volunteer, instead of just a day off from work or school to sleep late or go shopping. And there are countless opportunities to be of service to others right here in the Black Hills. If you can't find one on your own, check out the website wwww.mlkday.gov. There, you'll find a link to more than 20 South Dakota organizations offering 48 volunteer opportunities all across the state, some of them right here in Rapid City and other area communities.

Much has changed in America in the 40 years since his death, but Dr. King would no doubt realize we have much work to do.

What better way to honor his memory, and his dream, than by volunteering at a school, church, senior center or youth club?