In keeping with the symbolism that has marked Barack Obama’s historic campaign, many of the day’s speakers mentioned famous speeches from past presidents’ inaugural addresses, including Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” and John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

Each excerpt had one thing in common: The president who made the speech was taking office during a time of great uncertainty. As Obama acknowledged during his appearance near the end of the celebration, the beginning of his presidency will be marked with the same uncertainty.

As he took the stage near the end of the concert, Obama reminded the crowd of his supporters that, while his election is a positive step toward the change he has promised, Americans must be patient.

“As I prepare to assume the presidency, yours are the voices I will take with me every day when I walk into that oval office,” he said.

Obama also reminded the crowd that in light of the recent economic downturn, change may be much more gradual than some might expect.

“I won’t pretend meeting any one of these challenges will be easy,” he said. “I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure.”

People streamed into the free event before 10 a.m., and by noon thousands were lined up outside security checkpoints.

MSU James Madison College sophomore Mitchell Rivard said while the crowds made it more difficult to get around, the reward of witnessing the President-elect’s first inaugural appearance was well worth the hassle.

“Thirty years from now, you’ll be sitting down telling the story of how you were in Washington, D.C., seeing the first African American be sworn in as the President of the United States,” he said. “You’d probably have a lot better view at home, on the television screen, but physically being here — it’s remarkable.”

Rivard, a member of the MSU Democrats, drove to Washington, D.C., to be a part of the inauguration and participate in several events celebrating Obama and his former opponent, Hillary Clinton, whom Rivard supported in the primaries.

“I was a huge Hillary Clinton supporter, but … I think Barack Obama is really kicking it off, making things more open, more receptive,” he said.

For D.C.-area residents, the kickoff of inauguration week was a harbinger of the larger crowds that Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony is expected to draw. But despite the hassle the large crowds caused for their daily commute, most residents expressed excitement about the Inauguration.

“This marks the fact that our country will be moving in an entirely new direction,” said Kimberly Mabry, a resident of nearby Decatur, Va. “This moment in time will be remembered for generations and generations to come.”

The streets were lined with thousands of volunteers, police and national guard members.
According to one member of the national guard, nearly every guardsperson from D.C. and the neighboring states had been called in for the week. They were working 12-hour days directing traffic and maintaining security.

While the vast majority of the crowd wore Obama-themed shirts, pins and hats, not everyone in attendance was a Democrat.

“I’m here to see the boss, Bruce Springsteen,” said Connor Currier, a student at George Washington University and a Chicago native. “I really am not a supporter of Obama. For me, being here is definitely about entertainment.”