Days 11 & 12 (January 20-21, 2009)
From Ben Koch ‘10…
Trapped in a Tunnel
4:30 a.m. EST came all too soon. After hitting snooze a few times only to realize that today was the big event, the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, did I get up! Quickly I was out of bed and ready. Today’s attire included three pairs of socks, three pairs of pants, five layers on top, gloves, hat, scarf, and cap. I thought I’d overdone myself, but there was never a time that I felt warm for the entire day. I was on the metro by 5 a.m., along with hundreds of thousands of other tired Inauguration pilgrims, who also looked sleepy.
Coming up out of the Judiciary Square metro, I saw what reminded me of pictures of city riots, thousands of people crowded everywhere - except everyone was happy. There were police and National Guard at each corner directing the crowd. Soon I was directed several blocks east to the line for guests with purple tickets. I’d assumed there couldn’t have been more than a few thousand people who were recipients of the purple tickets, given the size of the area on the map. I assumed wrong, however, as the line started at the security gate scheduled to open at 8 a.m. and went two blocks back west and into the 3rd Street tunnel.
When I joined the line, I was nearly a quarter-mile into the car tunnel that runs under the National Mall. I thought the crowds were bad by then (now 5:30), but I was wrong. There seemed to be a lot of purple tickets as the line extended down into the tunnel and out of sight. For someone who doesn’t like enclosed spaces, I was sure glad I got in line when I did because at least I could see the outside of the tunnel. The line didn’t move for three hours, but everything was going well. I stood next to a couple from Washington D.C. We had an interesting conversation, focusing on the energy in the air, and the “melting pot” of people who were in attendance that day - blacks, whites, Latinos, children, elderly, blind, homeless, wealthy, citizens of other countries. It had become apparent that this day was for EVERYONE.
Around 9 a.m., tensions began to spike for some, as people flooding into the tunnel began cutting in line. A woman came down the line instructing us to be honest about our place in the line, and to kindly ask those who try to cut to go to the end of the line. I kindly asked three different people to move. They said they were just “confused” about where the line ended. I’m not sure what could have been so confusing to them as the line clearly extended well past me where they tried to stand. But I took them at their word and didn’t think a thing of it. Around 10 a.m., things really started to get tense. I turned around and a girl who I’d been standing next to for the last four hours yelled at me, saying “I know you weren’t in line the whole time.” I politely corrected her, at which point some other girls joined her by accusing me of “shaking hands” with the people 20 feet ahead in line and letting them cut. I again politely informed her that I did no such thing, and quoted one of her lines from a previous outburst - that such tension “doesn’t support the spirit of Obama.” I’m not really sure what the “spirit of Obama” was, but it got the message across. I think she was just trying to say that Obama would not approve of such dishonesty when trying to see his Inauguration.
Around 10 a.m., I received a text message from the ALERTDC service, stating that a woman was struck by a metro train and to expect delays. Things were getting crazy (the woman escaped with only minor bumps and bruises). Rumors began going through the line about what was taking so long. One was that there was a fight in front of our gate between the purple ticket holders and the silver ticket holders. Another claimed that the Secret Service detail at our gate had been pulled away due to a security breach, resulting in our gate being closed. In either case, the line wasn’t going anywhere fast.
The Purple Gate
At 10:30, I was still inside the tunnel and tensions were reaching a breaking point. Chants of “end of the line, end of the line!” were resonating from farther back in the tunnel toward all who walked in. The crowd was getting stir crazy. At 11, the line really began to move and soon I could see the gate, except things were not as they seemed. Instead of an orderly line, all chaos broke loose and the line became a mass of people crowding toward the gates. There was no room to move, except in the direction of the crowd.
At that point, I realized that the purple gate was closed and they weren’t letting people in. As it was then 11:15, I tried to escape the confined crowd. The crowd began shouting “let us in, let us in!” It was a very intense couple of minutes as I tried to get from the crushing madness to a place where I wouldn’t get crushed. I’m going to make a Facebook group (or at least join one), dedicated to those of us who stood in line and waited at the purple gate. I think I’ll call it, “I was at the Purple Gate. The Official Group for Purple Ticket Holders to the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama.” It’d be fun to hear other points of views on the line and mess.
It was at this point that I began to realize that I wouldn’t be seeing the Inauguration, or hearing it for that matter. I phoned a few friends and family I’d been texting all day to let them know my plight and considered what my next decision would be. Suddenly there was a loud voice over a horn that said they would be opening the gate for purple ticket holders. I was instantly back into the crowd, moving slowly toward the gate and being squeezed ever so tight! Everyone held up their tickets and pushed jammed-packed while the same loud voice could be heard shouting, “No pushing! No pushing!”
Finding a Spot
Within minutes of being in the crushing mess, I was through the gate. I ran past the security guards once given the okay, and passed quickly through the metal detectors. I heard Dr. Rick Warren in the middle of his prayer as I darted into the purple standing section. Thousands of people were running with me to fill the purple standing room, in hopes of not missing any more of the ceremony.
I soon found a place as far up in the crowd as I could. The only problem was that I couldn’t really see. The Capitol was huge in front of me, but there were stands blocking the main stage and a tree in front of the closest Jumbotron. Well, if I couldn’t see history…at least I could hear it! Aretha Franklin moved the cramped audience. Soon Joe Biden took his oath and maddening cheers burst forward from the thousands around. I was surprised with how short the oath was! A beautiful song arranged by John Williams, featuring Yo-Yo Ma followed. Unfortunately, no one in the crowd appeared to be paying attention and instead talked to those around them. It was a beautiful song, but the crowd was anticipating the looming BIG event.
New President
When Barack Obama stood up and took his oath, you could have heard a pin drop. People from all walks of life were moved as he became the 44th President of the United States of America. Unlike the silence during the oath, you couldn’t hear a thing after “so help me God” because the crowd began to shout, “Obama, Obama, Obama!” They fired cannons off for a minute after the oath was taken. The cannons were probably about a thousand feet away from me, and my heart skipped a few beats when they first boomed!
The President then took the stage and delivered his Inaugural Address. The massive crowd was again completely silent, except when cheering (or booing), during the address. It was mind-boggling to take in his words, realizing that they will be written into the history books. I’ll have to watch it again several times before I will even catch all that he said. After his address, people began to leave, but I stayed and edged a little bit closer. One of the neatest things happened during the National Anthem-everyone sang. Now I’ve been moved to patriotic tears before when singing the Star Spangled Banner on the Fourth of July…but singing with 2 million people in front of the Capitol….words cannot describe the pride and love in my heart that I had for America at that moment.
Lines, lines, lines
When the Inauguration was over, I immediately made a move back to the entrance, hoping to retrace my steps. I decided the metro was a no go for now, as I didn’t want to be crushed and potentially end up on the tracks. I called my dad, and he proceeded to navigate me through the streets of D.C. back toward Virginia. I stopped along the way for McDonalds and purchased a few buttons and souvenirs. Even though I was blocks away from the Mall, people were everywhere. It was overwhelming to have so many people everywhere - like something out of a movie…but definitely cool.
Wanting to catch a glimpse of the parade, I found a public entry point closer to the White House and began waiting in yet another line to be screened by security. I met a mother and daughter from Maryland. They watched the Inauguration ceremony on CNN, then decided that they needed to be a part of the action in the city and left home quickly. The mother said she didn’t care if they didn’t see the parade, she just wanted to be in the city with the masses during this important time. Nearly two hours later, and almost 4 p.m., the security gate was still far away. Realizing that I probably wasn’t going to make it past security, and that if I did, I wouldn’t be able to see anything, I decided to leave the line. At this point I had been standing, walking, and waiting in lines for almost 12 hours!!! I was exhausted as I collapsed onto the metro. I nearly feel asleep and missed my stop! Thankfully, I finally found myself back at the hotel and had soon passed out on my bed for a well-deserved nap. WHAT A DAY! History had been made, and I had experienced it! My head hurt as I tried to comprehend just how significant this day was. WOW.
Farewell D.C.
That evening my group got together for one last meal before we went our separate ways. The conversation was exciting as we swapped stories of the day. Some saw people jump over barriers in a mad rush to see the ceremonies. Others walked more than three miles to avoid the crowds. Everyone was excited that they were present on this historic day! Eventually we said our goodbyes and went back to our rooms to pack and sleep for a few hours before catching our flight home. I’ll miss these new friends! Maybe we’ll all end up in Washington someday?
January 21
I went to Reagan National Airport at 6:30 a.m. to catch my flight. I didn’t get through the lines and security until 8:20 with my flight leaving at 8:40. Needless to say, while I was going to miss D.C., I was glad to be escaping the huge crowds and lines. Here in the airport, I see a magazine cover with President Obama’s face on it and the words “What Now?” I stopped to ponder this question. What will he do now? He’s already made history and he’s been in office less than 24 hours! A feat and an accomplishment. I hope that President Obama continues to move for change for the betterment of our country. It will be very interesting to see what his defining moment will be, as he’s had so many already. I trust that the values he spoke of during his address will be a strong compass for his decision-making. I also pondered that question for myself. “What now?” I’ve been to Washington, D.C., for 10 of the most extraordinary days of my life. What would I do with those experiences? How would they shape me? When will it finally hit me, and I fully comprehend the full significance of all of these events?
I just got a text message from President Obama. It said, “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.” Now that’s cool. You don’t get text messages from the President every day. This is the beginning of something new for our country.
This trip has been the opportunity of a college career! Thank you Dr. Galsky and Dr. Conley for the support and help in making this happen! I’ve got one more year left at Bradley; I can’t wait to see what will be next. Over and out….for now!