WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Monday paid tribute to the late African-American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., one day before he is inaugurated.

"Today, we celebrate the life of a preacher who, more than forty-five years ago, stood on our national mall in the shadow of Lincoln and shared his dream for our nation. His was a vision that all Americans might share the freedom to make of our lives what we will; that our children might climb higher than we would," Obama said in a statement.

"Martin Luther King's was a life lived in loving service to others. As we honor that legacy, it's not a day just to pause and reflect -- it's a day to act," he continued.

The president-elect urged the Americans "to turn today's efforts into an ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of others in their communities, their cities, and their country."

Monday is the Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday that commemorates the Jan. 15, 1929, birth of King, who advocated peaceful resistance and equality among all races and the day is traditionally marked by taking part in volunteer activities for the public good.

According to the schedule, Obama will spend the day attending community projects in Washington in memory of King, who was assassinated in 1968.

Both Obama and King are African Americans.

In the evening, the president-elect will attend three private dinners to honor former secretary of State Colin Powell, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Senator John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, for their public service.

Meanwhile, Washington is braced for unprecedented crowds for Tuesday's inauguration.

More than 2 million people are expected to attend the historic event.

Some snow showers are forecast for Washington DC during Monday and temperatures are set to drop to well below freezing overnight.

The weather for Tuesday is forecast to be colder than average, around zero Celsius degrees.
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