A Front-Row Seat to History

by Heather Owen

Red Carpets. Concerts. Famous names. Two million-plus people. The inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States was more like the premier of a blockbuster movie than conventional D.C. politics. And for six Embry-Riddle students, the experience was about much more than politics or the election.

Just getting to the location seemed to be the greatest task.

“I flew to Washington the Saturday before the inauguration and stayed in Maryland with the family of my best friend. We’re both alumni,” said Joanne Marie Soliman, who earned a B.S. in safety science at Embry-Riddle and is now in the master’s degree program in aeronautics.

For Steve Boyce, a sophomore in engineering physics, and Bryan Manuel, a graduate student in aerospace engineering, transportation logistics were preplanned. They were both attending the University Presidential Inaugural Conference, organized by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council.

The city was packed with people from around the world, including some very big names. “John Legend and Stevie Wonder hosted a party at our hotel one night, and huge groups of people were coming and going through the hotel,” Boyce said.

However, once the main event started, most of the attendees walked to the event. “To get around DC, we traveled on the Metro subway system,” said Lance Hagan, a senior in aeronautical science. “All other travels were made on foot. Given the weather and crowd conditions, this made for quite an adventure.”

With estimates of more than two million attendees, getting a good spot for the inauguration meant a really early start.

“We woke up on inauguration day at 4 a.m. and drove to a Metro station,” Soliman said. “You wouldn’t believe how packed the train was. We got there just after 5:30 and it was already crowded. Every street was closed, but there were checkpoints where you could go through, so we lined up at a checkpoint. Our plan was to see the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. There was a huge roar when they opened the gate, and a flood of people rushed through. We were smooshed. It was chaos. But we found a great spot at 13th and Pennsylvania.”

“The crowds were absolutely massive,” Manuel added. “I arrived on the National Mall at about 7 a.m., and the closest I could get was three blocks from the start of the public viewing area. When I arrived, the crowds were already pouring into the Mall. By the time the ceremony started, we were packed shoulder to shoulder.”

Those who did get a good spot also got a good view of the motorcade.

“I saw Condoleezza Rice in one car, followed by Dick Cheney and Joe Biden, and then a car with Laura Bush and Michelle Obama,” Soliman said. “In the last car were President Bush, sitting on our side, and President Obama.”

Boyce had an even closer encounter earlier in the week. “While we were at one of our conferences,” he recalled, “the Secret Service closed down part of the hotel because President Obama was eating breakfast with representatives of Illinois State.”

With temperatures in the teens, the attendees had a difficult transition from the warmth of Daytona Beach. “My first shock was the extreme cold,” said Greg Zwolinski, who is double-majoring in aeronautical science and aerospace engineering. “I wore two sweaters, two jackets, long underwear, jeans, and snowboarding pants.”

Marie-Jeanne Steady Ndiaye agreed. “I hate cold with a passion,” said the human factors graduate student, who also was bundled in layers of clothing from head to foot.

Yet, the anticipatory feeling among people in the crowds warmed whatever numbness the weather had caused. For some, it was a chance to watch history in the making.

“What stood out for me was the overall atmosphere,” Boyce said. “It was as if everything and everyone had stopped to witness this moment. The president’s speech had a colossal feeling to it, and I felt like we were witnessing the dawn of a new era, our era.”

Hagan agreed. “The crowds there were nothing short of spectacular, both in size and spirit,” he recalled. “The overall feeling was simply one of joy. Everyone there wanted to personally witness history. I believe this is why the crowds were so very, very kind. It felt like Christmas all over again.”

For Soliman, it was a childhood dream fulfilled. “As a kid, I had always told my mom I’d like to go to an inauguration,” she said. “I was really proud to see so many people lined up to vote in the election and to witness the inauguration with my friends.”

“Many thought this presidency would be impossible due to racial background,” Hagan said. “Well, the impossible has proved to be possible indeed. His election was the personification of one nation’s growth toward progress. An example was set for nations everywhere.”

For four of the Embry-Riddle attendees, this was definitely a message that was heard internationally.

Boyce, who is from Nova Scotia, Canada, appreciated the fact that President Obama addressed not only America, but the entire world. “He expressed that it was the responsibility of all established countries to lead by example and create a global atmosphere of cooperation and camaraderie,” he said.

Manuel, also a Canadian, said, “I followed this election for the past year. Being able to say I was there when the U.S. inaugurated its first black president is something I will always be proud of. You don’t get a front-row seat to history any day, and this could be a moment that defines an entire generation of Americans and young people around the world.”

Zwolinski, who grew up between Poland and the United States, said, “There was big unity there, a common cause. People were tired of the economy and wanted to see the country do better. I was extremely proud to be there.”

Steady-Ndiaye, who is from Senegal, summed it up. “I didn’t witness the first man on the moon, MLK or JFK getting shot, the discovery of electricity, things that changed the world,” she said. “We’re the self-entitled generation. I feel like this is my moment for something bigger than American or African-American. This change we’re witnessing is not superficial. People all over the world are expecting it. I’m going to hold him (Obama) accountable. He made me hope.”

-- Heather Owen is a senior majoring in Communications at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus.