Vice President Joe Biden & Family Participate In National Day Of Service

At DC Armory even, Veep says America's possibilities are "immense"...

Kicking off the 57th Presidential Inauguration on Saturday morning, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden hit the DC Armory for the MLK National Day of Service.  They were joined by their children and grandchildren as they helped pack 100,000 Care Kits filled with necessities for deployed U.S. Service Members, Wounded Warriors, Veterans and First Responders.  (Above, the Veep pauses to greet a volunteer)

The Armory was packed with volunteers, and the Second Couple stood at a long table, filling care kits with items plucked from big plastic tubs. Clad in a navy suit jacket and striped shirt, Biden chatted with volunteers as he worked.  Dr. Biden wore a black sweater with an Obama Biden t-shirt and bright blue jeans tucked into her boots, and stood beside granddaughter Finnegan Biden as she worked.

During brief remarks from the stage, Biden hailed servicemen and women, and spoke about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Servicemen and servicewomen, he said, are "not looking for anything but knowing that we remember is an important piece of the equation." The Vice President added that while only one percent of the nation serves their country, the 99 percent back home owe them their gratitude.

Dr. King instilled "this notion of absolute service," Biden said. "We have to move back to reaching out to people," he said.

The Vice President takes the oath of office for the second time on Sunday, and announced "I think we're on the cusp of doing some really great things."

America is about "possibilities," Biden said, "and the possibilities are immense."

The Unite America in Service Event was organized by Points of Light, according to the the VP's Office, and sponsored by Target.  Former President George H.W. Bush is the honorary chairman of the foundation and board includes members of the Bush family and former Bush White House staffers. The care kit contents included lint rollers, dental floss, toothbrush and toothpaste, hand wipes, Band aids, sanitizer and Q Tips.

"May God protect our troops," Biden said as he exited the stage.

Other family members joining the Second Couple included Beau Biden, Hallie Biden, R. Hunter Biden, Natalie Biden, Hunter Biden, Kathleen Biden, Naomi Biden, Maisy Biden,  Ashley Biden and Howard Krein.  (Above, a long view of the Armory)

The Biden party arrived at the DC Armory at 10:30 AM and worked for about an hour.  They returned to the Naval Observatory at 11:46 AM. 

Meantime, President Obama and the First Family headed to a service event at  Burrville Elementary School in Northeast DC, where they helped refurbish the school in a service project organized by City Year.

*The full schedule for the 57th Presidential Inaugural.

*Top photo by Presidential Inaugural Committee; second by Instagram user MMRay; second photo by Twitter user @JenHarms11