My Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009

The Inauguration was an incredible time for me and for all those who attended. It was a memorable day, an historic day, a very exciting day. My niece and her boyfriend had come to visit me for this occasion and our Inauguration Day actually started the previous day, January 19, when we went to the Mall and scouted out the situation to determine a location where we wanted to stand. We found a spot that we thought would provide a good view, was easily accessible, and would be good for photos.

Our Inauguration Day started early — we got to the Metro at 5:30 a.m., and we arrived downtown by 6:30. Although the trains were packed, we had no problem getting on the Metro; however, when we arrived downtown, we realized that the Metro system was not set up to handle such large crowds. Each passenger must pass through a turnstile to pay, and that takes time. As the trains emptied, passengers packed the platforms and the escalators leading to the turnstiles. The backup at the turnstiles and in the stations was massive and crushing, and some trains had to skip some stations because no more passengers could be discharged onto the platforms. We had planned to exit at one station, but had to exit at a different station because of the crowded platforms.

When we got off the train, we realized immediately that people should have been permitted to ride free, without needing to stop to pay as they passed through the turnstiles. Politicians run the Metro system, and they wanted the revenue more than they wanted to be helpful to passengers and visitors, so they required everyone to pay. Later we learned that approximately one million people used the Metro system on Inauguration Day. If the average fare was about $2.50, the revenue that day was about $2.5 million. With all of the expenses that day — totaling more than $150 million — surely $2.5 million could have been found to help people move through the Metro system without the massive backups.

As we exited the Metro, we faced darkness and cold with people everywhere quickly making their way to the Mall. Volunteers in red knitted caps were everywhere, guiding the crowds and making everyone feel happy. I stopped to take a photo of a food stand that was selling hot food for breakfast; hawkers of Obama souvenirs were everywhere selling buttons, banners, hats, calendars, and many other items.

When we finally got out of the Metro station, we headed quickly toward our preferred location, only to find that it was already filled, and the entrance was closed. We were directed farther away from the Capitol, and we ended up pretty far back from the podium. If you see the satellite map of the Mall, we were just across from the Hirschhorn Museum, about half way between the Capitol and the Washington Monument — perhaps 800-1000 meters from the podium.

We worked our way forward as far as possible. The crowd was crushing; people were standing shoulder to shoulder. I have never experienced such huge numbers of people. It was a complete crush of people. However, the mood was one of incredible excitement and celebration, so the feeling was very joyful. Huge “Jumbotrons” had been set up along the Mall, so everyone could see the ceremonies, and the sound system was really great. We were just not close enough to take good photos.

After we arrived at the location where we would stand, we realized that we would be standing in that location for six hours with very little movement. We soon learned how difficult it is to stand in one place for a long time. Backs hurt, knees hurt, freezing feet hurt until they become numb. One can stamp one’s feet, but that is not very helpful. As we made our way onto the Mall, volunteers handed out small American flags to wave, and everyone spent the day waving their flags. I think some of the waving was to provide a little motion as much as to cheer.

The cold was also painful. When we arrived at the Mall, the temperature was 19 degrees Fahrenheit (about -7 C); it warmed up to about 32 degrees F (0 C) by the time of the swearing in. The cold is painful to the face and to the hands, and particularly to the feet. We had dressed well, wearing long ski underwear and several layers of clothing. We had warm knitted hats pulled down over our ear muffs, and warm gloves. We also had chemical “hand warmers”, which were particularly helpful. One hand warmer inside a glove kept one’s hands warm the entire day. Some people put the warmers inside their shoes as well. The bigger problem was not the cold, but the standing in one place for six hours. At the end, we had problems making our bodies, particularly our knees, work again.

In the beginning, our standing was boring. We talked with people around us, and among ourselves, but it was boring just standing. After a time, the Jumbotrons began a replay of the Sunday concert at the Lincoln Memorial, "We Are One", that was televised on HBO. The entire show was replayed, and it was very, very good. The show ran about 90 minutes, which took us up to about an hour prior to the beginning of the ceremony. At that point, the Jumbotrons began to show preparations on the platform and then dignitaries arriving. It was interesting to watch famous people arrive, and to see the TV shots of motorcades bringing them to the Capitol. All of the entertainment being shown on the Jumbotrons really helped the time to pass in a more pleasant way, and greatly added to the happy feeling of the day. Any glimpse of Obama or his family brought huge, sustained cheers from the crowd, and the cheers did not stop during the procession of his motorcade to the Capitol.

As we passed the time during the six-hour wait, we talked with people around us, and we learned that virtually everyone in our area was from out of town, mostly from California. They had come to experience the historical event and also to celebrate Bush’s departure. When Bush was shown on the Jumbotron, boos went up from the masses. People from California and Texas and Maine around us all expressed deep relief and overwhelming joy at the change. The mood was one of great celebration.

One man from Houston had come by himself, just to experience the event. Another man from Orange County, California also came just to witness the historical event. The two men in front of us, also from California, were hopeful that Obama would have a more respected foreign policy, one that Americans could respect, as well as those in other countries. Several people said they believed that Obama would be more respectful of our Constitution. Everyone felt that he would be better for America in every respect than Bush.

As Obama took the oath of office, everyone noticed the mix-up in the wording of the oath, although we were not aware that Chief Justice Roberts was speaking from memory, and simply forgot the words. (We now know that he had to administer the oath again at the White House because the Constitution requires the oath to be certain specific words, and without those words, a Constitutional challenge might have been made about whether Obama was in fact the President.) However, a giant roar erupted as Obama said, “So help me God.” During his address, roars went up numerous times, and at the end of his address, the roar continued for several minutes. At that moment, everyone began leaving the Mall, without waiting for the final prayer, which we heard as we exited.

A huge problem arose at end of the ceremony as everyone exited the Mall. We all knew that the parade route was along Pennsylvania Avenue, north of the Mall. However, all through the day, messages were displayed on the Jumbotrons instructing everyone to exit through three places — 7th Street, 12th Street, and 14th Street, along Constitution Avenue. Being happy and willing to follow instructions, everyone did as they were instructed. However, when we got to the 7th Street exit, it was blocked by security. Everyone began to move to the 12th Street exit, but they found it to be blocked by security as well. An even larger mass of people formed at that exit, until they gradually moved to the 14th Street exit, which they found was also blocked.

Only after much time and frustration did people finally move farther west along the Mall until they found that they were able to exit at 17th Street. Even then, all streets heading north were blocked until 21st Street. If the Jumbotron messages had simply informed the crowd that the only exit would be as far west as 17th Street, there would have been no problem; everyone would have simply gone there in the first place.

Now we are into the second day of the Obama Administration, and polls show that about 75 percent of the American people are hopeful that he will bring improvements in our country and in the world. At long last, we can again be happy and even proud to be Americans. It is a great time, an exciting time, a hopeful time. Many in America are reminded of the words of Gerald Ford when he assumed the Presidency after Richard Nixon resigned: “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.” Thanks be to God.