The masses had begun to line the National Mall days before the inaguration, decided that this was as much their inaguration as it was the President's.
A contagious excitement spread from heart to heart as citizens of America and the world gathered to celebrate, rejoice, and take advantage of a chance to come together to remember the spirit that makes American so great, and to revel in a moment of togetherness.
That same spirit presided over the pomp and circumstance of Inaguration Day. The hallowed halls of history came to life as former Presidents, Civil Rights Activists, and Patriots from all walks of life converged on Washington to witness history within history: the second inauguration of America's first black President, the year of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the 50th anniversary year of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
In a simple but elegant and very personal inaugural address, President Obama took the reigns of a second term, conjuring the spirits of presidents past to emphasize national unity, the need to act now on America's most significant issues, and to answer the call for the pursuit of peace and not perpetual war.
CNN commentator Gloria Borger called the speech, "Artfully constructed."
When summarizing the inauguration, U.S. Rep. and Civil Rights Activist John Lewis said, "It felt very good, very moving. Almost unreal. Almost unbelievable."
The remainder of the day will be filled with more pomp, pageantry, parades, and inagural balls as America celebrates all the possibilities that this moment in history can bring.
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Kevin Don Porter is the author of MISSING -- a mystery novel available May 7, 2013. He is also a Writer/Contributor for CBSLocal and Literary Examiner for Examiner.com. Friend him on Facebook and visit his website at: www.kevindonporter.com.
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