WASHINGTON, D.C. — It was easy to get lost in the sea of people that overflowed the U.S. Capital on Monday — the grounds swelled with tens of thousands of people of all races, of all ages, of every socioeconomic status, and from every corner of the world.

Despite the many differences easily visible through the crowds, their commonalities seemed far more obvious.

It was the day Ronald Reagan first set aside as Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader — and the day before the nation gains its first black president. Barack Obama will be sworn in on the Capitol’s front steps this morning to become America’s 44th president.

These two days, though as vastly different as the Washington masses, seemed inextricably bound.

Through the crowd on Monday, one woman with far more purpose than her small frame would suggest stood out — though her purple wool coat paired with her broad smile were hard to miss as well.

Johnnie Delk, 65, of Meridian is a petite woman with an energetic spirit. Delk walked around the Capitol with ease, never tiring.

At age 17, she had listened as Dr. King gave his "I have a dream" speech on Aug. 28, 1963 - a dream she said Obama's presidency will fulfill beginning today.

At age 18, she befriended James Chaney and Michael Schwerner during Freedom Summer 1964. Though killed by the Ku Klux Klan later that summer, it was not before she witnessed firsthand the hours they put in, the spirit they had, the vision they held onto, and the hope they instilled.

It was because of this hope that years later Delk found herself knocking on 500 doors in Meridian to register voters and encourage people to vote for Obama as part of the East Mississippi For Obama bipartisan group she helped lead.

It was that type of grassroots campaign that carried Obama to the White House.

Delk had only one regret Monday as she stood near the steps of the Capitol and reflected.

"I wish they could have seen this day," Delk said of Chaney and Schwerner, her voice cracking softly.

"This was their purpose, all of them,” she said. “I think they knew this day would come. What Dr. King said all those years ago, at the Lincoln Memorial, it's coming true. It's unbelievable."

As the nation paused to honor King on Monday, the symmetry between the civil rights icon and Obama was unavoidable. Their visions and message separated only by time. It was on the lips of everyone.

On Monday, Obama took part in a community renovation project in the Washington area to honor King, who blazed a trail for Obama to be the nation's first black president.

Republican Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, in Washington for the inauguration, said Tuesday will be a historic moment for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

"This (inauguration) speaks volumes about America," said Barbour, former head of the National GOP.

"In my lifetime we had legalized segregation,” Barbour said. “And while I'm still active — I consider myself pretty young — we elected an African American for president. That tells you about how, as Americans, we are comfortable with change. We recognize the rights of others and we truly believe in equality.

“You have people, Republicans and conservatives, who may not have voted for Obama, like myself,” he said, “but we appreciate the historical significance of the moment and we wish him well. I hope he succeeds."

Geralyn Stephens Gunn, 51, of Detroit, Mich., drove with a few family members — through heavy snow — to Baltimore, Md., on Sunday en route to Obama’s inauguration. They departed at 7 a.m., even though a foot of snow covered her driveway.

After a night's rest, the group drove to Washington early Monday. As they traveled, they heard a rebroadcast of Dr. King's "I have a dream” speech on public access radio.

Gunn said she had an epiphany:

"Dr. King saw this day," she said, her eyes widening with every word. "I've listened to that speech a hundred times, but today, as we were driving here, it just hit me: God allowed him to see this. Where I stand today, looking at the stage where Obama will be inaugurated ... this is all the manifestation of his dream.

"This happened in my lifetime. I can't believe it," she said, walking to the security fence, snapping a few photos of the backdrop of where Obama will be sworn in.

"I didn't think I'd get this emotional," she said, her voice fading. "I'm so happy we came."

On the other side of the Capitol, two little girls donning black “Obama” toboggans played near the back steps. Katherine Ward, 4, and Lillian Ward, 3, wouldn't quite be still for their father, David, 38, to snap a photo. He, along with his mother and sister, also wore the hats, $10 a pop purchases from one of the many vendors that lined downtown.

The family from Charlotte, N.C. was missing one key component.

"My wife couldn't get off work to be here, and she's probably the biggest Obama fan there is," David Ward said of his spouse, a nurse mid-wife.

"We didn't want our daughters to miss this moment," said Ward, a human resources manager of a call center. "This is so encouraging, just seeing such a groundswell of support. It's a great moment."

From all walks of life and for a myriad of reasons, they've come together on America's front lawn. Some not born during the civil rights movement, some vaguely phased by it, and some defined by the heartache and the hope of over 40 years ago. For some, it is history in the making. For others, it is the closure they need. But for most, those who turned out today, in anticipation of the inauguration and in remembrance of King, it was a day for looking back once more, before looking forward.

As Johhnie Delk said, "I will never stop fighting and pushing and staying positive for all of those who fought so hard ... I will never let their voice die down."