On the eve of the inauguration of America's first black president, marchers proceeded down Yakima's Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, carrying signs proclaiming "We are living the dream," "Thank you MLK for making a difference" and "Obama rocks."

Today, Barack Obama -- the son of a white Kansas woman and a black Kenyan man -- becomes America's 44th president, the first American president of color.

And that fact was on the minds of many of the hundreds of people who took part in Monday's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Peace Walk.

"This just proves with hope and the unity of the people, anything is possible, everything is possible," said 30-year-old Jaime Covarrubias, who participated in the march.

He walked near the end of the procession -- which started at the intersection of North Fifth Avenue and MLK Boulevard --carrying a black-and-white airbrushed portrait of community advocate Henry Beauchamp.

Like President-elect Obama and slain civil rights leader King, Beauchamp -- Yakima's first black mayor -- was on the minds of many during the march. The 75-year-old, who has helped organize the local Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration for years, is recovering from a Jan. 6 stroke.

"He's our Martin Luther King," Covarrubias said. "He's Yakima's Martin Luther King."

Riding on the back of a pickup at the tail end of the procession, his 11-year-old daughter, Aishah, also carried a sign honoring Beauchamp. She held it high above her head with both hands for the duration of the march.

It read: "Get well soon Henry Beauchamp!!!"

"This event is very important to him," said her mother, 28-year-old Anastacia Covarrubias.

Her family was just one group in the multicultural procession, made up of marchers from many different walks of life, and of many different ages and races.

Some carried signs which simply read "Dream" or "Imagine," or "One love" and "All we are saying ... is give peace a chance." Others walked with their arms linked.

What might King think, if he were here and alive today?

"I think he would be astounded we have a black president. His dream came true, and change is here to come," said 18-year-old Joya Marzette, adding, "It means a lot to me, this change."

The 2008 Eisenhower High School graduate and her cousin -- Ike junior Alyesha Villalobos, 17 -- have been taking part in the peace walk for as long as they can remember. But this one was different.

"We have a black president," Villalobos said. "I think it's amazing. Some people thought it could never happen."

As they marched down the street named for the famous civil rights leader, his famous "I Have a Dream" speech blared from speakers.

"We owe him a debt of gratitude," said the Rev. Cheryl Rohret, minister of Yakima's Unity Spiritual Life Center. Like many marchers, she wore a yellow ribbon imprinted with the words "Power of change, hope and opportunity."

Ken Hargrove wore a bright orange vest. The 49-year-old volunteered to help with traffic control. As procession turned right at North Eighth Street, he shook hands and patted people on the back.

"Take it home," he told folks as they headed to the Yakima Convention Center.

He also had a message for young people: "We have a black president now. There are no more excuses. You can be anything. You can't blame it on the white man anymore. You can't blame your parents. You can't blame society. No more excuses. Yes, we can. Yes, we can be the president, doctors, lawyers."

Students from local elementary, middle and high schools read essays at the convention center. The closing program also included a series of songs and speeches.

"We have something to be thankful for," Dee Rome -- better known simply as "Miz Dee" of BBQ Works on Yakima Avenue -- told the crowd. "America is getting ready to make history like history has never been made before."

Rome served as emcee and encouraged people to pray for Beauchamp.

The former mayor's grandson, 15-year-old Tyler Beauchamp, a sophomore at Davis High School, performed in the closing program, singing "The Black National Anthem" with three other students. He also sang a couple of traditional African-American spirituals with the Davis jazz choir.

The young man had a lot on his mind Monday, "mainly my grandpa and how he's doing better and how I know he wishes he could be here."

He was also thinking about King and his dream. "Even though I didn't get to take part in the marches he led, I still get to march and believe in what he believed: equality for all races, religions, colors, ethnicities."

And he was thinking about Obama: "America," Tyler Beauchamp said, "needed a change."