The 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and placement of the Statue of Freedom atop of the Capitol Dome in 1863 will coincide with the Fifty-Seventh Presidential Inauguration the weekend of January 19 – 21st. The official theme for the 2013 inauguration is “Faith in America’s Future,” commemorating the United States’ perseverance and unity.
The Inauguration Swearing-in Ceremony will be held on January 21, 2013 around 11:20am. The oath of office will be administered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Following the oath of office, the President will give his inaugural address, setting out his vision for America and goals for the nation.
The Inauguration Parade will be held on January 21, 2013 at 2:30pm. The parade route is on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC.
Also on January 21st, it is the legal holiday for the birthday day of Civil Rights Leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Americans are to honor his birthday as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off”. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solution to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”