Today Americans across the country are honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by participating in a day of service in their communities. The response we are seeing to the devastating earthquake that just occurred 600 miles south of Florida is a great example of Dr. King's commitment to common humanity. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) salutes the extraordinary generosity and compassion of the American people who are coming together to help the Haitian people. We are also thankful for the courageous efforts of our brave men and women – civilian and military – who are working tirelessly in Haiti to save lives and here at home to deliver critical relief. These efforts represent what is best about America -- the courage and generosity of the American people.

The citizens of Haiti continue to work together with the international community to help meet the needs on the ground. These are resilient people with a strong history of perseverance. USAID is honored to be leading America’s response, which is a true “whole-of-government” effort. I want to thank our colleagues from the Departments of State, Homeland Security, and Defense, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other parts of our government for their extraordinary efforts. The spirit of service that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day represents is currently being felt around the world as dozens of nations and their citizens work together to rapidly and responsibly deliver assistance to our neighbors in need.