Obama seeks to renew MLK Day meaning

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama says he wants to renew Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national day of service, as originally intended.

Speaking on behalf of Obama's plan Friday was former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who announced the "Renew America Together" initiative by saying he hopes Obama's victory will revitalize interest in the slain civil rights leader's legacy, The Washington Post reported.

"Inaugurations are always a new start," Powell told reporters. "Inaugurations are a time for new leadership to come in and charge the nation to deal with the problems that we have."

Obama, who will become the nation's first African-American president Jan. 20, plans to take part in Washington-area volunteer activities along with his family as part of the effort to renew Martin Luther King Day's purpose, the Post said.

The federal holiday was first observed 23 years ago and in 1994 Congress designated it as a National Day of Service tied to King's birthday, Jan. 15, inspired by his words, "everybody can be great because anybody can serve." But it never quite caught on, the newspaper said.