Whit Editor Attends Inauguration Day Celebrations

Some put aside fears of flying, and boarded planes from other time zones; some drove all night, fueled by coffee and a dream of someday being able to say “I Was There.”

Despite punishing low temperatures and harsh winds, millions flocked to the nation’s capitol to witness one of the most momentous days in American history – the swearing in of 44th President Barack Obama.

Many arrived on Monday evening, camping out all night and staking claim of coveted spots on the National Mall. A limited number of official tickets were given out for the parade route, but that didn’t stop thousands upon thousands from waiting in line, trying to find a place.

Whit Photo Editor Alexandra Harcharek was in D.C. on Tuesday. Here are her notes from the day:

7:00 a.m. – The early-morning Amtrak train from Philadelphia is packed and buzzing.
Next to me, a mother and daughter from Minnesota sit chatting and drinking coffee. They say they took the train down to D.C. on Monday to pick up their parade tickets – which had to be retrieved in person. They returned to their friends’ apartment in Philly in the afternoon, only to board another train down at 6:55 a.m.

When asked why, they replied, “It’s part of the experience. There’s nowhere to stay here, so we don’t mind going back and forth a few times to make this happen.”

8:30 a.m. – As I leave Union Station, pushing through the glass doors among a throng of other visitors, I overhear a father telling his young children, “Prime objective: just to get here. We’ve already done that.” This is right before we hit the wave of people, scurrying along the sidewalks and streets – all foreign to the city and unsure of where to go. Where’s the mall? You know, the big grassy thing with 200,000 people on it already?

The real citizens of Washington are doing their best to welcome and accommodate the influx of visitors. Groups like MeetUp.com encourage people to mingle and uphold the spirit of the day, passing out nametags reading, “Hello, my fellow American, my name is…”

“Don’t be snooty! Talk to someone you wouldn’t usually talk to,” called out one nameless volunteer, dressed in a red Obama t-shirt. “Remember why you’re here!”

To that, the crowds simply chanted, “O-ba-ma! O-ba-ma.”

9:09 a.m. – The air is alive with chatter, as people are led in circles, trying to make their way to the color-coded ticket-holder areas along the parade route, or to security gates which will give us access the Mall. There, large screens are set up along the lawn, which will allow public viewing of the ceremonies. This is full-force Obama madness. Street vendors are hawking just about anything they can slap with the word OBAMA – t-shirts, blankets, buttons, and posters. The best find so far is a bejeweled ski cap with red, white, and blue sparkles in the iconic image of the president’s face. For $5, how could I pass that up?

As recommended, most people are texting or emailing each other because data can go through quicker. Everywhere I look, there are people using their cell phones to snap pictures and text friends. iPhone and Blackberry users are updating blogs and sharing news updates to the people around them. This is truly a high-tech affair fitting for our new president, the Mac-loving tech geek who wooed voters with an iPhone application, frequently updated Twitter account, and an exclusive YouTube channel.
10:30 a.m. – Despite months of planning by city officials, this is still uncharted territory. Long and circuitous lines everywhere as the masses of people try to find a way closer to the ceremonies. At the security gate on 7th St, three thousand people are slowly funneling one at a time through the checkpoint, packed like sardines in the narrow side street.

As I wait in the dead-locked line, I let my eyes wander to my neighbors. All ages, all types. A young family beside me breaks out tuna sandwiches for their children. A Spanish-language news crew broadcasts from atop a cement bench, overseeing the expanse of people.

It’s 16 degrees; the middle-aged black man next to me says, to no one in particular, “well at least we’re keeping each other warm!”

10:45 a.m. – Two women dressed in pink can-can skirts and feather boas are dancing in a small opening of the crowd.

“We’re wearing can-can skirts, because yes we can-can!”

They are from CodePink, a grassroots anti-war group that frequently hosts demonstrations, political demonstrations and marches to protest war and promote peace. Four years ago, members of their group were jailed during Bush’s inauguration ceremonies; today they are passing out pink ribbons and holding signs that say “Obama, keep your promises for peace.”

11:15 a.m. – By this point, people are getting desperate. Word spreads through the crowds that ticket holders were turned away at gates, led through a maze of people and iron barriers. It appears that many people will not make it to their destinations, or worse, not get to see or hear the ceremonies at all. The “purple section” was a mess, according to 24-year-old Andrew Madison, who came all the way from Dallas, Tx. His family rented an apartment on top of the Newseum for a month in order to attend the inauguration and one of the balls.

“I have to say that it the most unorganized thing I’ve seen in a while,” he said. “There’s just a line of people wrapping 3-4 blocks. A lot of them have been waiting since 3 a.m.” Madison added that although frustrations run high, the atmosphere of goodwill still remains and people aren’t being mean just yet – they just want to be a part of this and have a chance to watch firsthand.

11:50 a.m. – At the intersection of 2nd and Pennsylvania Ave, the man of the hour isn’t who you’d expect it to be. Instead, the most important speaker at that moment lay in the hands of a five-year-old boy. Noble Peck, perched atop his father’s shoulders, carried a portable radio which broadcast the swearing in ceremonies to a crowd of nearly a hundred people piled on the sidewalk.

His father, Adam Peck of Nacogdoches, Tx, said he hadn’t expected to be a speaker for the whole crowd, but was happy that everyone would get a chance to listen.

“We’re just thrilled to be here and to see Obama,” he said. “We flew all the way to Philadelphia and then drove down just to be here.”

Too far away from the jumbo screens to get a good visual, listeners gathered closely in a circle around the boy, eager to hear a clip of the speech and ceremony. When President Barack Obama began to speak, hushed silence spread across the assembly within seconds – an odd occurrence in such a large city.

When President-elect made the transition to President, some cheered. Some high-fived strangers and discreetly popped open celebratory bottles. Some prayed. And others welcomed the moment with silent tears.

”We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth,” Obama said in his inaugural address.

As he spoke about our “patchwork heritage,” it became evident just how true that statement was. No matter your politics, it doesn’t take a genius to see how important this day was to so many people – people who took off work to wait around in the freezing cold all day, just to hear a man give a speech and walk down a street.

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