"Today, we celebrate the life of a preacher who, more than forty-five years ago, stood on our national mall in the shadow of Lincoln and shared his dream for our nation. His was a vision that all Americans might share the freedom to make of our lives what we will; that our children might climb higher than we would," Obama said in a statement.
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A woman walks past a mural of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington January 19, 2009. |
The president-elect urged the Americans "to turn today's efforts into an ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of others in their communities, their cities, and their country."
Monday is the Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday that commemorates the Jan. 15, 1929, birth of King, who advocated peaceful resistance and equality among all races and the day is traditionally marked by taking part in volunteer activities for the public good.
According to the schedule, Obama will spend the day attending community projects in Washington in memory of King, who was assassinated in 1968.
Both Obama and King are African Americans.
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.S. President-elect Barack Obama hugs a girl during a visit to Sasha Bruce House, an emergency shelter for teens in Washington, January 19, 2009 |
Meanwhile, Washington is braced for uNPRecedented crowds for Tuesday's inauguration.
More than 2 million people are expected to attend the historic event.
Some snow showers are forecast for Washington DC during Monday and temperatures are set to drop to well below freezing overnight.
The weather for Tuesday is forecast to be colder than average, around zero Celsius degrees.