WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama evoked Martin Luther King Jr.'s own words about public service Monday as Obama and his family celebrated the life of the late civil rights leader with a volunteer project.
The president, along with wife Michelle Obama and daughter Malia, joined other volunteers at Browne Education Center in Washington.
During brief remarks, the president said there was no better way to honor King than to do something on behalf of others. He also acknowledged the controversy surrounding a quote on the new MLK memorial in Washington, which is being changed amid criticism that it did not accurately reflect King's words.
"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," Obama said. "There is nobody who can't serve, nobody who can't help somebody else."
(27 images)
The president, along with wife Michelle Obama and daughter Malia, joined other volunteers at Browne Education Center in Washington.
During brief remarks, the president said there was no better way to honor King than to do something on behalf of others. He also acknowledged the controversy surrounding a quote on the new MLK memorial in Washington, which is being changed amid criticism that it did not accurately reflect King's words.
"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," Obama said. "There is nobody who can't serve, nobody who can't help somebody else."
(27 images)
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Belle Chel, 5, left, and Vickey Zhu watch the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 in Denver. AP / Manuel Martinez
Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr., are inscribed in the wall at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial as it is seen at dusk ahead of its dedication this weekend in Washington. A quote carved in stone on the new Martin Luther King memorial in Washington will be changed after the inscription was criticized for not accurately reflecting the civil rights leader's words. AP / Charles Dharapak
Angelique Marcus of Baltimore, Md. touches a quote on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, before a ceremony to honor his legacy. AP / Evan Vucci
From left, Liza Joy Marcato of Hillsdale, N.Y., Beverly Steed of Washington, and Marcus Knausenberger of Devin, Pa., sing after a ceremony at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. AP / Evan Vucci
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet people as they arrive at the Let Freedom Ring Celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. AP / Susan Walsh
Ja' Quavia Steward, 13, left, and Jasper Thomas, 15, hold a Martin Luther King Jr. banner as they get ready to walk in the 34th Annual "Original" Dr. Martin Luther King Birthday Parade and Celebration Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, in Houston. AP / Nick de la Torre
Candi Flora, a historian wearing actual irons from the days of slavery, raises her arms as she rides on a pick up sponsored by the Greater Houston Fair Housing Center during the 34th Annual "Original" Dr. Martin Luther King Birthday Parade and Celebration Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, in Houston. AP / Nick de la Torre
Candy Thompson yells "We love you and welcome home!" to a group of soldiers participating in the Martin Luther King banner for the 34th Annual "Original" Dr. Martin Luther King Birthday Parade and Celebration Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, in Houston. AP / Nick de la Torre
Lisa Ward holds up a sign as she participates in the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 in Denver. AP / Manuel Martinez
Alex Chapman, 15, waits on the steps of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, for the 27th Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, in Denver, Colo. AP / Manuel Martinez
Ian Stevenson, 9, of Sacramento, Calif. waits at the Oak Park Community Center to participate in the March for the Dream to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This was his third year marching in the parade. rbyer@sacbee.com / Renee C. Byer
Kaiser Permanente employees, physicians, nurses, staff members and their families honored the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. in Sacramento, Calif. by volunteering their time and service to beautify the Firehouse Community Center in Del Paso Heights. The center's outdoor "playcare" gets new mulch spread by, from left, Scott Fishman with his children Lucas, 9 and Elsa, 7 and Grant Dizon age 11. Fishman's wife is a physician at Kaiser.
mcrisostomo@sacbee.com / Manny Crisostomo
Jasmin Ventura, of Santa Ana, pauses before painting her next stroke as she joins about 200 volunteers who painted a mural on a Santa Ana, Calif. wall in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. Community volunteers joined together creating an artpiece entitled, "I Have A Dream." The 45-foot long wall is located near Raitt St. at Richland Avenue in Santa Ana. AP / H. Lorren Au Jr.
Politicians, family members of Martin Luther King Jr., and others sing "We Shall Overcome" during a service commemorating the late civil rights leader, held at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Mon., Jan. 16, 2012, in Atlanta. AP / John Amis
Ellen Ochoa Middle School students Corey Brown, right, and his brother Marcel place roses Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, at a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Wash., during the 21st annual bell-ringing ceremony. AP / Richard Dickin
Leon Smith holds a framed picture of Martin Luther King, Jr. as he blocks traffic while the annual MLK Day parade makes its way down Second Street in Memphis, Tenn. Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. Hundreds gathered at Auction and Main street to start the parade that got larger as bystanders joined in while the crowd made their way to the National Civil Rights Museum. AP / Mike Brown
Marchers parade down Second Street during the annual Martin Luther King Day parade through downtown Memphis, Tenn. Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. AP / Mike Brown
Aujahnae Theus, 9, left, and Akiya Pollard, 9, watch the Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Las Vegas on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. Thousands of people line the parade route to watch the 30th annual parade in honor of the slain civil rights leader. AP / Jeff Scheid
A group tries to stay warm prior to the start of the annual King Day at the Dome rally at the State House in Columbia, S.C., Monday, January 16, 2012. The event featured a service at Zion Baptist Church and a march down Main Street towards the capitol. MCT / Gerry Melendez
Jalia Dozier, left, and Jordan Williams, dances to music prior to the start of the annual King Day at the Dome rally at the State House, Monday, January 16, 2012 in Columbia, S.C. MCT / Gerry Melendez
Andrew Boudreaux, 10, leads the procession of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial March in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, January 16, 2012. Thousands of area residents took part in celebrations, prayer breakfasts and service project to celebrate the birthday of the late civil rights leader. MCT / Takaaki Iwabu
The Rev. Doris Sanders, from left, Cherrod Kornegy, 9, Imani Manning, 17, and Kris Graham, 17, line up for the annual Martin Luther King Memorial March in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, January 16, 2012. MCT / Takaaki Iwabu
Hundreds of people march down Fayetteville Street in Raliegh, N.C. during the annual Martin Luther King Memorial March on Monday. ZUMA24.com / Takaaki Iwabu
Gwen Downie of First Zion Missionary Baptist Church and the Deerfield Beach High School marching band participate in the city's 36th annual Martin Luther King Freedom March and Parade in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Monday, January 16, 2012. MCT / Susan Stocker
Zakyyah Engram, 11, carries a photo of Dr. King during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade through downtown Jacksonville, Fla., Monday Jan. 16, 2012. AP / Kelly Jordan
A member of the Black Cowboys rides his horse carrying the American Flag during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade through downtown Jacksonville, Fla., Monday Jan. 16, 2012. AP / Kelly Jordan
With an image of Martin Luther King, Jr. as a backdrop, performers join hands as they sing "We Shall Overcome" during the 26th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday Jan. 16, 2012 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the Brooklyn borough of New York. AP / Tina Fineberg
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