With just a day to go until his inauguration as the 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Obama will today invoke the spirit of Martin Luther King by taking part in a community renovation project in the Washington area to honour the civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1968.
Today is the federal holiday commemorating the birthday of King, who advocated equality among races and peaceful resistance to discrimination, and is also a national "day of service" which Obama has called on Americans to honour by volunteering in a wide variety of projects including delivering meals, refurbishing schools and community centres, collecting food and clothing, removing graffiti and reading to children.
Obama's decision to shape the final day of his pre-presidential life around the man who many feel blazed the trail for him to become the first black president, came after he honored another giant political figure: Abraham Lincoln. On Saturday, Obama and his family took the train from Philadephia to Washington, in an echo of the route taken by Lincoln on his way to the presidency in 1861, before attending a rally for national renewal at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, which heard performances by Bruce Springsteen, Mary J Blige, Beyoncé and U2.
The vice-president-elect Joe Biden is also volunteering today as part of the annual Martin Luther King "day of service". More than 12,100 service projects are taking place across the country, more than double last year's number after Obama urged Americans to volunteer on the holiday. More than a million people are expected to make it "a day on, not a day off".
Tonight Obama is scheduled to attend three private dinners to honour the public service of former secretary of state Colin Powell; Biden, a long-time senator from Delaware; and John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee. Obama is reported to have quietly consulted McCain about many potential nominees to top national security jobs. Those dinners will be held at the Washington Hilton, National Building Museum and Union Station. Michelle Obama, the future first lady, is hosting a children's evening concert.
It also emerged that a new hero has been invited to join tomorrow's inauguration. US Airways pilot Chesley Sullenberger, who safely crash-landed a failing passenger jet in the Hudson river on Thursday, has been invited by the president-elect to attend Tuesday's inauguration, along with his crew and family.
Mr. Bubble
aka Jeff Haselwood
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