This is the story of the inauguration from how I saw it…
1.19.09
We went into D.C. to see the set up. This was our chance to get close to the capitol and see all the hard work that had gone on. The thousands upon thousands of chairs that had been set up, the fences and barricades, the hundreds of port-o-potties, the news channels set up, and the vendors selling everything & anything you can imagine with the words “Barack Obama,” “Inauguration 2009,” & “44th.” We were on MSNBC cheering in a crowd. We got interviewed by a local newspaper. We visited The Museum of American History.
1.20.09
We woke up at 3:00 a.m. so we could catch one of the first trains into D.C. We had traveled to be a witness to history and wanted to be in the absolute best spot we could find. Even that early, the train ride in took longer than normal. One local said he had never been on a train that took that long to get into the city. The announcer kept saying we had to stop because there was so much congestion ahead of us.
(picture of metro train)
We were able to get a great spot. About as close as one could get without having a ticket & still in good view of a jumbo-tron.
We bundled up for a long cold day. Multiple socks, sweaters, coats, scarves, ear warmers, hats, gloves. It was still so cold. We stood there on the mall bundled up, cold, & hungry for over 6 hours, but the atmosphere was something I had never experienced before. Everyone was so polite to one another. We were all there for the same reason. There was a quiet excitement in the air. We all knew something amazing was going to happen. Once the sun rose the Sunday concert, We are One, was played on the jumbo-tron. What a truly wonderful experience to be in this huge crowd of strangers all joining in singing, dancing, and celebrating. At one point, a group of people around us, started doing the electric slide. Volunteers slowly worked thier way through the massive crowd and handed out American flags to us. After the concert ended, a live feed was shown on the jumbo-tron. We got to see everyone arriving. Anytime it showed an image of the presidential motorcade the crowd would erupt into cheers. The excitement was palpable. As everyone slowly took their seats…the justices, the senate, the congress…”O-BAM-A!” was being chanted. During this whole event I was struggling with the balance of documenting this historic moment as well as savoring it.
At 12:05 p.m. when Barack Obama placed his hand on Lincoln’s bible and began to recite the Presidential Oath there was hushed awe in the crowd. Those 35 words were changing our country forever. An enourmous cry erupted from the crowd, flags waving, arms up, tears falling, we were all united.
As President Barack Obama began his speech, the crowd was quiet once again, hanging on each word he spoke. “We have gathered because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord…what is required of us now is a new era of responsibility.”
When the ceremony ended the mass exodus began. More waiting…another 6 hours of waiting to get onto the train. Still cold and still hungry (we had forgotten to eat breakfast that morning).
Was it worth it? Yes. Would I do it again? In a heart beat. He gives me hope for the future, a belief that we can do better. It was incredible to see the diversity of people all united for this one moment.
*You can see more photos from the inauguration on my facebook album
