What Happens When Inauguration Day Lands on a Federal Holiday?
Your guide to how two major events will affect the local area.
For only the second time in history, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the public ceremony for the presidential inauguration will occur on the same day: Jan. 21, 2013.
Ronald Reagan's second inauguration also coincided with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on Jan. 21, 1985. The 20th Amendment (ratified in 1933) to the U.S. Constitution changed the beginning of the presidential term from March 4 to Jan. 20, so the president will be sworn in privately on Sunday, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies reported on its website.
While traveling into the district this Monday will be more complicated than usual due to road closures, Metro station closures and a number of no-parking zones, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is a federal holiday, meaning that federal and local government offices, banks and post offices will be closed.
In Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, as well as in DC, schools and libraries will be closed, and Ride On buses will operate on modified schedules. Parking meter fees will not be enforced. Read more about how to get to the city on Monday on Patch.
In Prince George's County, trash pickup will operate on a regular schedule, while the schedule will slide by one day in Montgomery County.
Also, Montgomery County will present its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
What are your plans for Martin Luther King Jr./Inauguration Day? Will you be venturing into DC? Tell us in the comments.
Marjorie Fuller
11:11 am on Friday, January 18, 2013
Nothing special about either event
Laura L Thornton
11:23 am on Friday, January 18, 2013
It's sort of an interesting occurrence, though. I had no idea that MLK Day and Inauguration Day happened on the same date so rarely. I remember last Inauguration Day was (I think?) the day after MLK Day, and with all the traffic expected to be in the city that day, my boss at my previous (non-journalism) job finally caved in and said we could have the day off. This year, that's not as much of an issue, since the special days fall on the same date.
Laura L Thornton
11:47 am on Friday, January 18, 2013
Also, MLK Day wasn't signed into law (by Regan) until 1983, and it wasn't observed as a federal holiday until 1986, though a few states celebrated it before that.
Here's a good article from Time magazine about the beginnings of MLK Day: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1872501,00.html
Anthony D Paul
11:25 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Note WMATA parking is not free, however. There is conflicting information on their website, where they say parking is free on federal holidays, but then in their final inauguration plans they say, "on Inauguration Day, Monday, January 21: At Metro-operated parking garages and lots, standard weekday parking rates will be charged upon exit from the facility."
Retired Army Mom
8:35 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
With inauguration falling on a Federal Holiday, won't all Federal and States employees (park service police, police, EMT support, etc.....) get double/holiday pay. The associated costs tor holding an inauguration event are huge. Alrhought put more money in folks pay checks is good, and theoretically they will spend that extra $, which theoretically will help local businesses etc.... tto add this extra cost to the government debt. I personally feel is irresponsible. A 2nd term inauguration should be a quiet small event. As the president has his own personal wealth, a true good faith show of national support would be for him to foot the bill.