ADM
01-19-2009, 09:02 PM
"Paying tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., President-elect Barack Obama took time on the eve of his inauguration Monday to roll up his sleeves and paint a shelter for homeless youths. Meantime, Michelle Obama filled bags with toothpaste, lotion and other supplies to be shipped to troops overseas.
The King holiday took on special meaning this year as the observance melded into the inaugural celebration for the first African-American president. People found ways to honor both men through public service, which has long been the cornerstone of the King holiday.
Weeks ago, Obama issued a plea to Americans to find ways to help others on Monday. With the help of his vast database of volunteers, more than one million people across America responded.
"The Internet is an amazing tool to organize people," Obama said. "We saw that in the campaign, but we don't want to use it just in elections. We want to use it to rebuild America."
The number of volunteers this year was more than double that of last year, according to Isaac Farris, president and CEO of the King Center in Atlanta. It was the largest turnout since the holiday was first observed in 1986, he said."
[By Dahleen Glanton and James Oliphant reporting from washington, 6:58 PM PST, January 19, 2009]
The King holiday took on special meaning this year as the observance melded into the inaugural celebration for the first African-American president. People found ways to honor both men through public service, which has long been the cornerstone of the King holiday.
Weeks ago, Obama issued a plea to Americans to find ways to help others on Monday. With the help of his vast database of volunteers, more than one million people across America responded.
"The Internet is an amazing tool to organize people," Obama said. "We saw that in the campaign, but we don't want to use it just in elections. We want to use it to rebuild America."
The number of volunteers this year was more than double that of last year, according to Isaac Farris, president and CEO of the King Center in Atlanta. It was the largest turnout since the holiday was first observed in 1986, he said."
[By Dahleen Glanton and James Oliphant reporting from washington, 6:58 PM PST, January 19, 2009]