The Obamas Mark MLK Day 2012 With Service Project At DC School

President: "All of us can be a drum major for service"...
Before picking up a paint brush on Monday morning at the Browne Education Campus in Washington, D.C., President Obama called on Americans to participate in community service to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Above: The President painting with the First Lady)

"There's no better way to celebrate Dr. King than to do something on behalf of others," President Obama said during remarks to a group of volunteers in the school cafeteria.

The President was joined by First Lady Obama and eldest daughter Malia for almost two hours of service for the national holiday, which included cleaning duties and arranging books in the school library. Sasha couldn't make it, the President said. For their 2011 service project, the First Family painted smiling vegetables on the cafeteria walls of Stuart Hobson Middle School in Northeast DC. (Above: The President during his remarks, with Mrs. Obama and Malia looking on)

The President also acknowledged controversy surrounding a King quote on the new MLK memorial in Washington on the National Mall, which is being changed after criticism that it does not accurately reflect King's words from a sermon known as the "Drum Major Instinct," delivered two months before he was assassinated in 1968.

"What he really said was all of us can be a drum major for service, all of us can be a drum major for justice," President Obama said.

"There is nobody who can't serve, nobody who can't help somebody else."

President Obama painted in a quote from Dr. King that read "The time is always right to do what is right." Mrs. Obama worked on "I have a dream."
The President wore a lined blue windbreaker, blue shirt open at the collar and a white T-shirt. Mrs. Obama was clad in a black suede jacket, a dark jacket, a patterned blouse, black slacks, and yellow canvas tennis shoes. Malia wore a blue quilted winter jacket, slacks and a grey t-shirt. (Above: The President and Malia in action)

"At a time when the country has been going through some difficult economic times, for us to be able to come together as a community, people from all different walks of life, and make sure that we’re giving back, that’s ultimately what makes us the strongest, most extraordinary country on Earth, is because we pull together when times are good, but also when times are hard. And you guys all represent that," the President told his fellow volunteers.

After, the Obamas went upstairs in the center to organize books. This evening, the President and Mrs. Obama will attend the Let Freedom Ring concert at the Kennedy Center, featuring singer Bobby McFerrin.



The service project was sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Greater DC. The President arrived at the Browne Center, located on Benning Road, just north of RFK Stadium, in Northeast, just west of the Anacostia River, at 9:53 AM. The moorcade returned to the White House at 11:39 AM.

Administration officials fanned out across the US to mark MLK Day. The President's Campaign operation was heavily promoting the day of service too, on Twitter and Facebook. (Above: Greeting volunteers)

*Top two photos by Pete Souza/White House; others by AP/pool