POSTED: Monday, January 19 at 4:30 p.m.

More than 45 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream. And for many, part of that dream will be realized Tuesday afternoon.

For more than 20 years, it's been a day that has great meaning to many people.

"Hello everyone thank you for coming out today to celebrate Dr. King's birthday," said Jonathan Overby who produced the MLK Day celebration at the Capitol on Monday.

And now, it may have even more meaning.

He continued, "What a special day it is today particularly with what's going to happen tomorrow. What a prelude, huh?"

Monday afternoon, hundreds of people packed the Capitol Rotunda to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To entertain the crowd, inspirational songs were played, inspirational words were spoken and inspirational people were recognized.

Said Derek Tyus of Madison, "If Dr. King were alive today he would be like finally everything we have been fighting for has come together at this time. That is what the spirit of his message means. And with tomorrow being inauguration day it is just overwhelming feeling of pride in America."

Stated Lamar Hoskin of Deerfield, "This is what it means to me: peace and love, peace and love and I've seen so much of it."

Added Valice Payton-Gross who once met Dr. King, "He means to me a great deal because he has paved the way for African Americans and people in general for justice."

Wisconsin was the first state in the country to officially celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Junior day. That started in 1980. It became a federal holiday in 1983.

During Monday's ceremony late NBC-15 anchor Mike Mckinney's mother Barbara McKinney received an award. She received the MLK Heritage Award for her work with the Madison Urban Ministry.