WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama met with some prominent Kern County citizens Wednesday to celebrate the life of Cesar Chavez.

Surrounded by Chavez family members and leaders from Keene-based United Farm Workers, which Chavez co-founded, Obama signed a proclamation designating March 31, 2010, as Cesar Chavez Day.

Chavez, a labor and civil rights activist, was born on March 31, 1927, and died in 1993. His birthday is celebrated as an official holiday in 11 states, including California.

On hand in the Oval Office were Arturo S. Rodriguez, UFW president; Dolores Huerta, UFW co-founder; Paul F. Chavez, Chavez’ middle son and president of the Cesar Chavez Foundation; and others.

"We thank President Obama for having the Chavez family and farm worker movement join him today," Paul F. Chavez said in a UFW news release. "We recognize how his dedication to community and public service parallels my father’s. Cesar Chavez’ message was not just for farm workers or Latinos. It was universal. By helping ordinary people do extraordinary things, he inspired farm workers and millions of others from all walks of life who never worked on a farm to believe in themselves, to do things they would never have thought possible."