Thousands across the United States on January 17 marked the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. with events imploring Americans to press toward achieving the slain civil rights leader's dream in the new millennium.

King, recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize for his work for racial equality, was assassinated in Mephis of Tennessee State on April 4, 1968. The federal observance of his birthday is Monday.

President Bill Clinton, who helped volunteers refurbish a computer lab at a local Boys and Girls Club, said, "Every time you give a little, you always get more back."

He has encouraged Americans to use the federal Holiday to help their neighbors who need it most, rather than as just another day of rest, saying it should be "a day on, not a day off."

In Atlanta, Vice President Al Gore announced that the federal government will seek 1.5 million US dollars in the fiscal 2001 budget to help protect the place where King was born and buried.

On January 16, King's widow, Coretta Scott King, said her husband's legacy could best be honored by serving others.

Around the country, many service activities including blood drives, neighborhood cleanups and Habitat for Humanity House-building projects were planned on Monday.

In New Hampshire, Governor Jeanne Shaheen has asked residents to celebrate the state's first day honoring King by giving something back to their communities.

Community leaders in New Orleans plan to announce a new gun buyback program. In Boston, volunteers plan to clean up trash near Northeastern University and hold an educational fair to teach youngsters about King's life and legacy. In Washington, D.C, volunteers plan to renovate the Martin Luther King Homeless Shelter.

The federal King holiday, which President Ronald Reagan signed into law in 1983, has widely become known as a day of volunteerism and community service. (Xinhua)