After more than a year of preaching a message of change, now, President Barack Obama will have his chance to put his message into action.
Obama was sworn into office as the 44th President of the United States - and the first African American President in the nation’s history - in front of more than 1.8 million people who lined the National Mall and millions of others who watched the inauguration at different venues throughout the world.
“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 to a thundering applause, after he took the oath of office on the same Bible that former President Abraham Lincoln did.
During his address, Obama spoke about the sacrifice of the previous generations beforehand and about how it is time for America to resume its leadership role in the world.
“But, our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed,” Obama said. “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.”
Obama spoke about the work needed to be done immediately, including creating jobs and laying the foundation for growth, raising the quality and reducing the cost of health care and transforming schools to meet the needs of the new age.
“For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies,” Obama said.
After Obama’s speech, he attended a luncheon with Senators and Congressmembers, and then he and his wife Michelle Obama took part in the 56th Inaugural Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. Later that night, the new first couple attended 10 Inaugural Balls throughout the nation’s capital.
Many of the city and state’s elected officials were in Washington D.C. for the Inauguration festivities.
“In President Obama’s stirring words, we heard not only notes of hope and history, but a tone of pragmatism that has the power to bring the country together, and move us forward, together,” said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
In addition, some Queens residents decided that watching the Inauguration at home or at work would not suffice.
“The excitement, the euphoria, the positive feelings - it’s just a wonderful atmosphere,” said Jackson Heights resident Luis Rosero, who went down to Washington D.C. with his father and nephew to experience the Inauguration festivities firsthand.
Rosero, who traveled down to Florida during the campaign to rally Hispanic voters in support of Obama, said that he spoke to people in the crowds from all over the country, and they all expressed their desire to be a part of history.
“The spirit of the people is definitely alive,” Rosero said. “This is something that was well worth the journey.”
Meanwhile, back in the borough, public and private schools assembled their students in classrooms and auditoriums so their students could hear Obama’s words.
“I would have wanted to be there because it’s like you are looking at history,” said Krishna Daiya, 12, a seventh grader at Leonardo Da Vinci Intermediate School 61 in Corona.
Other venues including Queens Theatre in the Park and York College’s Performing Arts Theatre opened up their doors to allow the public to assemble in one spot to share the historic moment together.
When Obama concluded his Inaugural Address, he asked those watching to remember the year of America’s birth when the outcome of the revolution was in doubt and the country came together around hope and virtue to forge ahead.
“America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations,” Obama said.
- Additional reporting by Claudia Cruz