Lexington County Council has changed its mind.

The county will continue to observe Veterans Day and 4 other holidays including civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

In what was described as an efficiency move, the council had originally planned to turn the holidays into work days. County employees could take other days off of their choosing.

“County Council voted to keep all holidays that the county currently observes for the upcoming fiscal year,” said county spokesman Harrison Cahill.

The original proposal met resistance from veterans’ advocates and the public.

“About 25,000 veterans and military personnel call Lexington County home,” former county Veterans Affairs Director Gary Baker wrote to the Chronicle.

“They have served in all wars since World War II.

“Since the French and Indian Wars to today, about 1,000 military personnel from Lexington County have died in service.”