Observances of the Day

As reported by the Scholastic Kids Press Corps

Some came as early as 4 a.m. to grab a spot on the National Mall to watch President-elect Barack Obama become the nation's 44th President and its first African-American President. The crowd totaled about 2 million according to official estimates. They filled every train and bus in the surrounding Virginia and Maryland suburbs, creating a sea of cheering humanity, most waving small American flags.

One Kid Reporter came in by Metro from the New Carrolton Station, the first on the Metro system's Orange line. Signs on the highway said the station was closed, but there was still plenty of parking left. (Glad we ignored the signs!) Cars pulling into the lot were bumper to bumper though, so it was going to fill up fast.

It was a long walk from the car to the station, but that was about to look like a stroll in the park. Thousands were gathering outside the station and being herded into a line that went up some stairs and out into another parking lot. It snaked around to the end of parking lot and back to the station before anyone was allowed on the station platform to board the trains.

The air was frigid cold. People were selling chemical hand warmers to people in line. One official said 18,000 people came to that one station alone.

Scholastic spoke to one man in line who didn't care how long it would take to get D.C. He wanted to see history.

"This is an opportunity for America to live up to its promise to us and to the world," said 62-year-old Brad Thompson. "TAhe world is looking to America to stand up for the things that make us strong. We are looking to Barack Obama to provide that kind of leadership."

Spirits were high everywhere. People would spontaneously break into chants and shouts of "Obama! Obama!"

The closer you got to the National Mall, the more people you had to walk along with. The crowd grew and grew with every step. Entire streets were filled with people moving slowly but surely toward the Jumbotrons. These giant TVs were placed all along the National Mall so that people without tickets closer to the stage could also see and hear the ceremonies.

It was cold, it was crowded, it was AWESOME!

PHOTO: The lines started at the Metro Stations—18,000 people at the New Carrolton Station on the Orange LIne alone—and lead to a small spot on the National Mall for each of the 2 million people who attended the inauguration of the nation's 44th President. (Photo by Suzanne Freeman)