新东方网英语讯：在大选中成功连任的美国总统奥巴马将于当地时间1月21日参加总统就职典礼。由于奥巴马公开宣誓就职大典正好是马丁·路德·金纪念日，他决定在典礼上使用两本圣经宣誓，一本属于前总统林肯，一本是已故民权运动领袖马丁·路德·金(Martin Luther King Jr.)。 编辑推荐 WASHINGTON — Hundreds of thousands of people are expected in Washington to witness President Barack Obamas second inauguration. The president will be publicly sworn in on Monday, the national holiday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The inaugurations events begin with a National Day of Service on Saturday January 19 honoring the legacy of the late civil rights leader. President Obama is asking people to participate in projects that serve their communities. Stephanie Garlick is fighting hunger. Shes volunteering at the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, doing what she can to help the less fortunate. "There is so much depression, and so many people are struggling with hard economic times and other issues, and giving of yourself just a little bit of time helping other people really lifts your spirit," Garlick said. Stephanie is one of 18,000 volunteers who give their time so the organization can distribute food to 500,000 children, seniors and families with single parents. Volunteers help save the agency more than $2 million in operating costs a year. "We work with people every single day of the week whether it is sorting of food that comes in donations that is where we work with most of our volunteers," said. Matt Crawford, who directs the volunteers. To mark the federal holiday honoring the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, President Obama is asking Americans to participate in service projects. Before he was assassinated in 1968, Dr. King was leading what he called the "Poor Peoples Campaign," an effort to alleviate poverty and hunger across the country. "I thank President Obama for his call, and we join proudly in that call. But we absolutely need individuals and civil society to join in the fight because its a big problem and really when we all pull together that is when we are most likely to be able to end hunger," said Nancy Roman, president of the Capital Area Food Bank. Members of Delta Sigma Theta sorority are doing what they can to help people and communities in need. For the last century the 260,000 member public service sorority and the nations largest African American womens organization has been involved in countless service projects. Francine Blake from Ohio says community service is a lifetime commitment for this sorority. "We serve the community not just on the local level, not just on the national level, but on the international level. We have now given scholarships to millions of young ladies to go to school and also young men," Blake said. The sorority will be serving others on the MLK holiday. Public service organizations hope a national day of service will encourage more people to volunteer in community projects throughout the year. 人物简介： 马丁·路德·金(英语：Martin Luther King, Jr.，1929年1月15日-1968年4月4日)，著名的美国民权运动领袖。1948年大学毕业。1948年到1951年间，在美国东海岸的费城继续深造。1963年，马丁·路德·金晋见了肯尼迪总统，要求通过新的民权法，给黑人以平等的权利。1963年8月28日在林肯纪念堂前发表《我有一个梦想》的演说。1964年度诺贝尔和平奖获得者。1968年4月，马丁·路德·金前往孟菲斯市领导工人罢工被人刺杀，年仅39岁。1986年起美国政府将每年1月的第三个星期一定为马丁路德金全国纪念日。 文化链接： 马丁·路德·金日， 1月的第三个星期一 1986年1月20日，星期一，全国各地的人们都在庆祝第一个官方的马丁·路德·金日，这是唯一一个纪念美国黑人的联邦假日。在乔治亚州亚特兰大的一个车站举办的纪念仪式尤其感人。成百上千的人聚集到那里游行唱歌。其中很多人曾经于1965年在阿拉巴玛州的两个城市之间徒步行走50英里，以反对针对美国黑人的种族隔离和种族歧视。 学校、政府和联邦机构在这一天都不开放。星期一会有安静的追思仪式以及为追悼马丁·路德·金博士而举行的隆重的纪念仪式。在此之前的星期天，所有地区的牧师都会进行特殊布道，提醒每个人缅怀马丁·路德·金博士追求和平的一生。整个周末，知名的广播电台会播放一些讲述公民权利运动的歌曲和演说。电视台会播出特别节目，介绍马丁·路德·金博士的生平。 在马丁路德金日，也称(MLK日)，放假的学生会被学校组织到校外参加公益活动。 （本文系新东方网独家稿件，版权为新东方网所有。欢迎转载，请务必注明出处(新东方网)及作者，否则必将追究法律责任。） （编辑：何莹莹)
