Historic. Ground-Breaking. Momentous.
These are just a few of the words used by the TV reporters on the major news networks to describe what took place on January 20th, 2009. Estimates of 1 million to 2 million people stood on the Mall to take part in the occasion. It had the greatest number of people ever to attend a Presidential Inauguration. Everyone who traveled to D.C. could feel the enormity of the event.
Even though this was a huge event for Washington, people around the country knew just how big this moment was to our country. Professors at Michigan cancelled class. Offices took work-stoppages in order to hold viewing parties in conference rooms. Even the sports world put things on hold when Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who was supposed to hold his first pre-Super Bowl press conference at 12pm, pushed this meeting back by over an hour so that he and his staff could watch President Obama take the Oath of Office.
The actual Inauguration was truly a moment in time people will always remember where they were at the exact moment that event occurred. But for me, one of the more memorable Inauguration moments happened long after the President placed his left hand to the Lincoln Bible and raised his right hand in the air. It was at the Youth Ball, one of the many post-inaugural celebrations that Washington D.C. had to offer, when President Obama and his wife addressed the crowd that was made up of mostly college students and kids in their late teens.
The President had been so formal and serious all day long. He had seldom smiled during his inauguration or during the luncheon after it. But once he took the stage at this ball, that all changed. The crowd went nuts. Even the Beatles never saw an ovation like this. He broke into a huge smile as the kids began to chant his name. Suddenly, he went from the serious leader of a nation to the charismatic person we had seen on the campaign trail the past 18 months. For the first time all day, the President looked at ease as he laughed and smiled through this ovation. This was his element, and he was relishing every minute of it. He told the audience "I've been looking for this Ball for quite some time," and it was evident he truly meant it.
His connection to young people was obvious at this moment, and he thanked these young Americans for playing such an instrumental role in his campaign. He talked about service to America, a theme he wanted to convey to all people throughout the week and the inauguration festivities. After doing a little dancing on stage with his wife, making sure to show some of his moves, the President said, "That's what's called 'Old School'. Have a great night guys. Love Ya."
By listening to the crowd's final ovation as our newly elected President walked off stage, you could tell the feeling was mutual.
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