Countdown to History: U.S. Celebrates Dr. King on Eve of Obama’s Inauguration

Less than 24 hours before he is sworn in as the 44th president of the United States President-elect Barack Obama joined thousands of others across the United States in a service day on this Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. President-elect Obama began the day by visiting wounded troops at a military hospital and issued a call to Americans to remember Dr. King by recommitting themselves to public service. He then rolled up his sleeves to help paint a wall at a shelter for homeless and runaway teenagers. He and wife Michelle then visited a local high school and had lunch with volunteers.

In the evening, President-elect Obama sought to encourage a spirit of unity by having dinner with the man he defeated for the presidency, Senator John McCain and joking as the two stood on stage together at a downtown hotel.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors streamed into Washington for inaugural festivities, which comes back-to-back with Monday's federal holiday honoring Dr. King, has added to the deep symbolism of a Black person receiving the keys to the White House, which was built largely on the labor of Black slaves. The inauguration of Barack Obama will mark a milestone in America's vicious history of race relations. It will come more than four decades after the height of the civil rights movement led by Dr. King, who preached racial harmony and was murdered in 1968.

A record crowd is expected for this inauguration, with more than a million people likely to fill the National Mall, a huge green area surrounded by museums and monuments, and more than 300 thousands more lined up along a parade route to the White House. An unprecedented security operation is also already under way, including patrols on ground, air and water.

Parties, concerts and seminars marking Barack Obama's inauguration were launched over the weekend and will hit full stride after Tuesday's ceremony.

As we look forward to this historic moment, we must remember that this is just the beginning and not the end. It is a time of reflection on where we as Black people have come from over the last forty years. It is also a time to look forward to what the future holds for our children and grandchildren holds. Now when we look at our newborn baby, we will truly believe that they can be anything they set their minds to be.