Honoring Dr. King

Sherry Browning throws candy to the crowd while riding a float during the Black Heritage Society's 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, in Houston.

Volunteers paint a mural of Dr. Martin Luther King and President-elect Barack Obama as part of a National Day of Service Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 in Houston, Texas. The event was sponsored by Independence Heights Redevelopment Council.

Miami

A man on a bicycle rides past a mural showing President-elect Barack Obama, left, and slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the Miami neighborhood of Liberty City, Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. Monday is the federal observance of what would have been King's 80th birthday.

Artist Cairns Althouris paints a mural depicting the Capitol building, President John F. Kennedy, slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President-elect Barack Obama, in the Miami neighborhood of Liberty City Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. Monday is the federal observance of what would have been King's 80th birthday.

Boston

Kristen Adams plays the violin with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras' Intensive Community Program, Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 as an image of Martin Luther King, Jr. is displayed on a screen in the background during a Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

San Antonio

A memorial casket is part of the Martin Luther King Day march in San Antonio, Monday, Jan. 19, 2009.

Thousands of people take part in a Martin Luther King Day march in San Antonio, Monday, Jan. 19, 2009.

A President Lincoln look-a-like takes part in a Martin Luther King Day march in San Antonio, Monday, Jan. 19, 2009.

Atlanta

Daycare students Makaylah Mbofana, 6, Yazeiry Perez, 4, Makayah Mbofana, 4, Zael Perez, 3, Jayda Johnson, 3, Diamond Hart, 3, and Daniel Ivey, 7, attend the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade in Atlanta on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009.

Members of Martin Luther King Jr.'s family from left: daughter Bernice King, nephew Issac Farris, sister Christine King Farris, and Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter link arms as they sing "We Shall Overcome" during the Annual Martin Luther King Jr., Commemorative Service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Monday, Jan. 19, 2009.

Bethlehem, Pa.

Members of Bethal Lodge 1284 Order of the Elks led by Frank West, carrying flag, and his grandson, Samad Thorne, 2, march through Bethlehem, Pa. during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day march on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009.

Chicago

Marlene Lara, left, paints at a Chicago shelter for teen mothers where many first-time volunteers, heeded a call by President-elect Barack Obama for Americans to serve others as a way to honor slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, in Chicago. Lara and other students from Roberto Clemente Community Academy built shelves, painted walls and a mural at the shelter called New Moms, Inc.

Denver, Colo.

A tear streams down the face of Kenneth Thomas, 49, from American Legion Post 29 as he posts the colors during the singing of the National Anthem before the annual Martin Luther King Day "Marade" in Denver, Colo. on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. To his left is Norman Harris, 90. The term "marade" is a combination of the words march and parade which is used to describe the annual event.

Thousands marching in Denver's annual "Marade" marking the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. makes their way down Esplanade after coming out of City Park in Denver, Colo. on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009.

Washington, D.C.

President elect Barack Obama paints with Martin Luther King III, left, during a renovation project at Sasha Bruce Youthwork, a shelter for homeless or runaway teens, in Washington , Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. Obama paid tribute to King as "not just a dreamer, but a doer," and urged all Americans to pitch in and take part in community service.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and the Rev. Al Sharpton, left, commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. on his national holiday during a memorial rally at Cardozo High School in Washington, Monday, Jan. 19, 2009.

Martin Luther King III speaks at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration and Realizing the Dream Awards, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, in Washington.

Martin Luther King III, right, talks with singer Harry Belafonte during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration and Realizing the Dream Awards, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, in Washington.

Memphis, Tenn.

Oryanna Davis, 7, touches the plaque marking the place Martin Luther King Jr. was shot at the Loraine Motel and National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, the nationwide holiday honoring King. King was killed on April 4, 1968.