Barack Obama began his term as the 44th President of the United States Tuesday by reminding the American people of the ‘price and promise of citizenship.’
Obama takes office at a time he said ‘gathering clouds and raging storms’ surround the country. The nation is in ‘the midst of crisis,’ given the state of the economy and the wars in the Middle East among the many challenges threatening the nation’s future, Obama said during his inaugural speech as a sea of waving American flags could be seen stretching for miles.
‘Today, I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious, and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met,’ Obama said.
‘On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord,’ Obama said.
An estimated two million people from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C. to witness the historic inauguration of the first black president.
Boston University Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore traveled to D.C. and said he was overwhelmed because he never thought he would see the day when a black man was elected president.
‘I look back on all the people who have fought, the men and women who have given their lives to make this a better nation, and I think we’re on the verge of really getting there,’ Elmore said. ‘For me personally, I thought of my ancestors, of people who toiled.’
Washington’s Metro transit system began service at 4 a.m. to transport the overflowing crowds to the National Mall. Harvard alumnus Mike Armstrong said he saw a large security presence around the Metro.
‘The Metro was pandemonium,’ Armstrong said. ‘The trains that went by us were all packed.’
The chaos was not as bad as many people expected, BU School of Management senior Hersh Parekh said.
‘In the end, considering the massive amount of planning that went into this huge event, they did a pretty good job,’ Parekh, also a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said.
‘Despite the chilly weather and being crowded in with people, I was just happy I had the opportunity to be there,’ he said.’
Freezing temperatures and densely packed grounds did not deter the throngs of people that swarmed the capitol before dawn to wait for Obama’s speech.
Virginia native Bob Howe said he arrived at the National Mall on his bike at seven in the morning to join the masses.
‘People are very happy to be here,’ Howe said. ‘It has to be something to have so many people out in the cold weather.’
Ann Glendinning and Carol Gosnell arrived at the Washington Monument even earlier. Since 5 a.m., the two women said Mother Nature could not dampen the joyful spirit of the day.’
‘We keep ourselves warm laughing,’ they said.
Comfort Julie Frye from New York City said she came to the Mall at 4:30 a.m. but left right before Obama’s speech because it was too cold, she said.’ However, watching it on television from her hotel room was still her favorite part of inauguration.
‘[Obama] was fulfilling and uplifting,’ Frye said.
Tim Gwiazski of Warwick, R.I. said the crowd surrounding him was jubilant and had few complaints.
‘It’s one of the largest crowds I’ve ever seen,’ Gwiazski said.
D.C. native Anna Kiefer said she saw ‘thousands and thousands’ of people get turned away at the Mall gates when her family came at 8:30 a.m. with failed hopes that their tickets would get them past the masses of people. However, her favorite part of the day was running through the streets of D.C. to find a television so she could watch Obama’s speech.
‘It was madness,’ Parekh said. ‘It was craziness. It was completely worth it.’
Staff reporters Abbie Ruzicka, Camille Roane and Jennie Eng contributed reporting to this article.
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