Inauguration Memories
-Linda Dyer Hart
Words will never express the experience of being there to see Barack Obama sworn in as our 44th President. How wonderful it sounds to say the words “President Obama.”
A friend of mine flew up from Palm Beach to Charlotte and we drove up and stayed at my daughter Deirdre’s apartment in D.C. with 8 other people. I think we had an hour of sleep because everyone was up all night talking. Several went over to the mall at 4:00 AM. I went at 6:00 AM as Deirdre lives on Massachusetts Ave. near the tunnel to 395.
We all had Silver tickets to the Inauguration. Most of our tickets came from Senator Dodd. I’m originally from Connecticut and we were also fortunate to have tickets from Congressman Spratt. The entire experience was euphoric and to see so many people helping one another and just being incredibly happy to be there was something to take in slowly and dream about! To look at a crowd of 2 million people on the Mall was something that felt like I had left this planet and had entered another world, somehow floating above it and seeing humanity at its best. After a long campaign the dream had come to fruition. Obama did it!! When Barack Obama first announced his Presidency back in 2007 (seems like a million years ago), I called his Senate office in D.C and said sign me up, I’ll do whatever is needed. Barack Obama has come at a time when there is so much hatred in the world and such a need for a man like him that it feels like destiny or fate that he is President at this time and place in history. It’s also wonderful to see the leaders and citizens of other countries so excited about his Presidency. I had been to Clinton’s Inauguration in 1992 with my son who was 16 at the time so it was wonderful that I was able to experience Presiden Obama’s Inauguration with my daughter, Deirdre.
I will always remember where I was on Jan. 20, 2009!!!