There were hundreds, thousands, and then millions of people from all over the United States and the world. Everyone was happy, we cheered, we cried, we laughed and were all in a state of pure elation. “Obama in the White House”. We came from New York and met our neighbors from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and people from as near and as far as Virginia, Georgia, and Florida. We met people from as far away and across the ocean from England, Germany, and Poland.

Sure enough, once on street level, we followed the crowd and began walking down Pennsylvania Avenue. People were walking and reciting the Martin Luther King Jr. speech, “I Have a Dream.” I may not have heard it in 1963. Harlem seemed a million miles away from D.C. But here I was today 2009, on Pennsylvania Avenue hearing Dr. King’s words from the people: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character…” I had memorized it from the history books.

We were all walking and following the same dream…up to the White House… up towards the Capitol steps, Pennsylvania Avenue, Constitution Avenue. My son-in-law began to recite the Declaration of Independence… “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...”

When we arrived at Constitution Avenue the crowd split up and we headed towards the Lincoln Memorial. After all, I said, “Because of Lincoln, we are here today.” As we climbed the steps of the Lincoln Memorial we recited Lincoln’s Gettysburg address: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal…”

After taking pictures at the Lincoln Memorial we decided to walk to the Washington Memorial. Along the frozen water of the Reflecting Pool we walked and were still awe-struck at the marching of the crowd. It was as if we were all Obama’s soldiers, marching to the tune of “I have a Dream,” and “Yes, We Can,” and “Yes, We Will.”

My six-year-old granddaughter and eight-year-old grandson asked millions of questions and we answered all their questions. By the time Obama was ready to say his inauguration speech, my grandson had climbed a wall to get a better view, my granddaughter was on her father’s shoulders because she wanted to see Obama, The President. This was a day my grandchildren would never forget and they, like everyone else who was out there standing in the cold frigid weather, wanted to see Obama and hear him speak, and not just read about it.

When Obama started his speech, everyone in the crowd of two million was silent and mesmerized by the words Obama spoke and the presence of the man who was our President. This was a magnificent moment; the people in the crowd were amazed, shocked, crying, praying, and just as jubilant as can be. We cheered and called Obama’s name. The crowd was exhilarated, clapped, and attentively listened to every word he spoke. At the end of the ceremonies my eight-year-old grandson said, “It’s the United States of Obama.”

As we excited the Mall area, we began to sing, “My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty…” Strangers joined us in singing and others just stopped to watch.

This was a memorable event and well worth every moment. This moment will be engraved in the minds of all who attended, all who saw and heard Obama speak; this moment will be memorialized in the history books. But I don't need to read it in the history books…I don't need to memorize it…I was part of history… I was there!