National Day of ServicePresident Barack Obama marked the end of his first term and the official start of his second during the weekend. He celebrated Saturday’s National Day of Service with an elementary school makeover project in Washington, DC. He was joined by his wife Michelle Obama and around 500 volunteers.

President Obama said that the turnout across the nation for the day’s events indicated a hunger on the part of young people to get involved and get engaged. The day’s events lead up to a national holiday that commemorates civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Michelle Obama said that the National Day of Service should represent the type of work that needs to be done for the next four years and in the future. She said that the older generation is passing the baton to young people and their goal as they go through life is to pull somebody up behind them. She said that it was the right thing to do.

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill were also present at the event. Jill Biden said that men and women in uniform, wounded warriors, veterans and first responders gave so much of themselves and it’s the citizen’s obligation to give back.

Some of the celebrities, musicians, and TV personalities who participated in the day’s events were Ben Folds, Chelsea Clinton, and Eva Longoria. President Obama began the day of service in 2009 and said he hopes that his initiative will be a tradition for future presidents.

In Washington, DC, volunteers will prepare more than 10,000 care packages for veterans, soldiers and first responders. In New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and city agencies will initiate service projects in communities affected by Superstorm Sandy. In California, volunteers will give food and winter coats to the homeless. In Chicago, service members will meet at the Navy Pier to write letters and make care packages for service members overseas.