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Entry bubble I AM . . .

By: Editor | January 22, 2009 | Category: Fun

This essay marks the final text installment in our inauguration coverage. For a compilation of photos and videos, check out our Flickr photostream and YouTube account. Thank you for your comments and participation. We hope you enjoyed following our coverage as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.


I am a proud witness of history. My husband and I attended the inauguration of our 44th president on Tuesday. It was an experience I will long remember for its cold weather, its beautiful music, its simplicity, and its monumental import.

Metro station platform at 6:30 a.m.I am lucky. We arose early Tuesday morning and caught the Metro before the crowds got too bad. We had a seat all the way in to town. We had tickets for the silver section, and although we stood in a line at least five blocks long, we only had to wait about 30 minutes before they opened the security gate. We passed through in mere minutes and eventually worked our way up to the Reflecting Pool just west of the Capitol. We stood right next to a woman from Las Vegas who’d waited since 4:30 a.m. to get in.

I am delighted that America takes its national celebrations as opportunities to revel in the arts. I will long remember the music I heard. A children’s choir singing of hope for the future, peace in our time, America the beautiful. A military band playing an 18th century Army marching song arranged by a 20th century American composer, Sousa’s marches, an achingly beautiful arrangement of “Amazing Grace”—iconic, American pieces all. The audience listening with rapt attention to the haunting strains of John Williams’ piece, “Air and Simple Gifts,” especially composed for the occasion.

crowd at the inaugurationI am in awe. On Tuesday, a simple ceremony shifted the leadership of our nation from one man to another in just 35 words. And as the oath of office was taken, a new era began. I wish I had been alive when Dr. King and the Freedom Riders and the Civil Rights workers fought for the freedoms of everyone so I could fully realize what it means for America and the world that we have an African-American president. I wish I personally knew the sense of triumph that swelled to cheers of “O-ba-ma” from so many African-Americans in the crowd with me on Tuesday.

I am hopeful. President Obama’s inaugural address was filled with soaring words of a new vision for America mixed with a sense of history’s weight and the challenge of working to make that new vision a reality. We humans are reluctant and slow to change, even if we know the change is good for us. I hope that the buoyant spirits which brought millions to brave a cold January morning, to wait in long lines with good will, to travel far distances in poor economic times, will convert into the energy and determination to do the hard work of making America a better place than it was on January 20th when history was made.

dawn over the Capitol on Jan. 21 

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Entry bubble Let's Party

By: Editor | January 19, 2009 | Category: Fun

If yesterday was a day to come together in music and song to celebrate our common heritage and common future, Monday evening has been the time to party! We have members of the USA.gov and GobiernoUSA.gov team at a variety of events this evening, and everyone has been treated to beautiful dresses, high excitement, and many famous people. They've also had the opportunity to celebrate with so many different people.

Velmarie attended the "Kids' Inaugural: We are the Future" concert. Big-name performers like Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, and Demi Lovato sang for military families. Kids got to go up on stage to dance before the concert officially began. And they got to hear about their role in the historic events of the last couple days. Jamie Foxx told the audience, "You are here because you are the future." Michelle Obama declared, "You are the future of this great nation." And George Lopez joked, "If you think we're making history, just wait until you see the first Latino president!"

Laura went to the 2009 Latino Inaugural Celebration, not only as an attendee, but also as a performer. She sings with a vocal group called Coral Cantigas here in the Washington, D.C. area, and she was lucky enough to be among the chorus' members who sang this evening. The mood was festive from the moment she walked into the grand hall at the Organization of American States, across the street from the grounds of the White House. When the National Anthem was sung, people cheered for over a minute! Performers and presenters alike shared how the nation is changing, as Hispanics make a greater impact (in this election, 10 million Latinos voted). 

The parties will go on well into the night, so check back tomorrow for pictures, perhaps some video, and thoughts from our team members who experienced it all themselves. 

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Entry bubble An Incredible Experience

By: Editor | January 19, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

This is how close Sarah stood in the press pool

Wow! First of all, what an incredible experience! As someone who has elbowed her way to the front row in more Counting Crows concerts than I care to remember, the chance to stand all of 50-100 feet from the stage was not lost on me! The deal got even sweeter when I realized that we’d have a completely unobstructed view from the press pool. As a newbie in the press pool, I was a little intimidated. These people carry large equipment, step ladders, and professional recording devices. Jon and I had point and shoot digital cameras and an mp3 converter. Nonetheless, there was an overarching air of camaraderie among the press. We all wanted to get good shots, and people were happy to hold your space or let the short folks squeeze in.

The crowd was amazing! I only saw if from afar, but I could hear the wave, the chants, and the undeniable energy coming off of it. It was cool to be there early because we got to see many of the celebrities practicing their speeches and goofing off during the sound check.Stevie Wonder and Shakira singing "Higher Ground"

It was cold and overcast, and by the time the ceremony started I was ready for it. The performances were out of this world. The crowd went nuts when Mary J. Blige sang “Lean on Me.” It was so cool to see performances like “Little Pink Houses,” “Higher Ground,” and “Shout” move thousands of people to sing and dance. Though if you ask Jon, he’d probably vote for Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi (he sang along readily with both). The entire afternoon really made me reconsider what a strong role music has in our culture. My favorite performances were probably Mary J. Blige and Garth Brooks—but that could be a testament more to my taste than their performances.

This was such a cool day! I’ve never seen so many artists I admire on one stage, with a common purpose, and with such a clear shot. I think everyone fed off of their energy, and we all were reminded of how important the arts are in our American tapestry.

Editor’s note: To see pictures of everything Jon and Sarah saw, take a look at Sarah’s photostream on Flickr.

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Entry bubble In the Midst of a Million Obamaniacs

By: Editor | January 19, 2009 | Category: Fun

Today, Obama got partial credit. Yes, he was a primary draw for the hundreds of thousands of people who filled the National Mall this Sunday, but the Prez-to-be shared the spotlight with a veritable United Nations of Stardom—U2, Garth Brooks, Tiger Woods, even folk legend Pete Seeger, who seemingly came straight from a retirement home to rock the Lincoln Pete Seeger singing with Bruce Springsteen Memorial for this historic inauguration. Because even though Obama is a celebrity who seems to speak to young people, his seemingly limitless coolness is completely eclipsed by the power of Beyonce.

Circling the frozen Reflecting Pool was an equally frozen mass of humanity, huddled closely together to breathe… each other’s exhalations. It was packed. Some people put out blankets to mark their territory, which provided the people climbing over you an excellent place to wipe their feet when they went through. The area started filling up from the back, and soon you hit a wall of chilly humans and had to find another way—most likely trampling someone’s fallen lawn chair or stepping over their toddler.

It felt more like a concert than anything Presidential, which was the point. I asked a group of teens who they were here for. “Will.i.am!” they shouted as one. Then one of the boys looked over his shoulder to see his mother glaring at him. “Oh… I mean Obama,” he said.

Some people were drawn by neither Barack nor his celebrity troubadours. I spoke to a couple who had voted Republican in 2008. They said they were there to see what the winning side looked like. A group of protesters felt that Obama had been elected by some shadowy powers who were using him to placate the angered masses. The only change Obama brought, they said, was a change in skin color. Most people, however, were far more hopeful. Hopeful enough to stay in 30-degree cold for six hours in the hope of seeing someone famous on a Jumbotron.

Looking east along the Reflecting Pool at the audience

In the center of the crush, Melodie Thompson was all smiles, even as she was sandwiched next to a tree by the crowd. An endless stream of people stepped carefully around her blanketed form. “We did not come knowing that this was a concert,” said Thompson, who said she was “representing” Rhode Island along with her teenage daughter Shemaiah.

“I've been an Obama backer for a a long time,” she said. “I really saw him as the change that was needed… it can’t start with legislation and then us getting on board… it has to start with us being Americans and us believing that we can do this. Inspiration—that’s what makes people tick.”

And throughout, people were startlingly polite. There was almost no shoving or swearing, especially in the press section, where manners are frequently nonexistent. Jamie Foxx, standing on the podium with the Lincoln Memorial majestically behind him, told the audience that they had come from all over the United States to be in DC this night. “Tonight,” he said, “you have come home.”

Faced with the cold, the lines, and the claustrophobia, for the thousands in attendance today, it really was good to be home.

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Entry bubble We are One: Opening Celebration

By: Editor | January 18, 2009 | Category: Fun

The festivities in Washington have officially begun!

view from the Lincoln Memorial looking east

Jon and Sarah are covering the “opening ceremonies” officially called “We are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.” After bundling up, they headed out at about 8:00 this morning. Not many people were out and about that early, although Jon did see a tow truck driver. A perimeter has been set up around the center of Washington, DC to keep vehicular traffic out and to increase security. He told Jon he’d already towed 100 cars before 8:00 and expected 1,000 by the end of the day.

At 10:00 the crowd around the Reflecting Pool, which extends east from the Lincoln Memorial, numbered in the several thousands. view along the Reflecting Pool with the Lincoln Memorial on the rightThey braved chilly temperatures in the lower 30s and gray skies for a good spot. The early risers were rewarded with a chance to watch pre-performance rehearsals from the likes of Tiger Woods, Tom Hanks, Steve Carrell, and Jamie Foxx and long lines for $3.00 cups of hot chocolate.

As the crowd grew, so did the camaraderie. People shared blankets with others they hadn’t known five minutes before. Young, old, celebrities, service members, and ordinary people sang, talked, laughed as the “Star Wars” theme and “Stand by Me” played and special songs recorded by Wilco and Lenny Kravitz played on Jumbotrons scattered throughout the grounds. Even as those old American favorites “This Little Light of Mine” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy” played, they sang along. People knew they were part of an historic event, and the electricity in the crowd made it even more so.

That’s just a taste of the festivities. We'll post more, but please visit our Twitter page to keep up with real-time impressions.

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