Johanna's Day

I got up at 2 am because I couldn't sleep. I got dressed in my many layers of clothes since the temperature went from below 10 degrees to a high of mid-20s with the wind chill. I wore tights, long skiing underwear and shirt, lined wool pants, regular socks, ski socks, snow boats, a turtle neck, a wool sweater, a scarf, a face/neck wrap, ear muffs, two hats, and gloves under mittens. I also had pocket warmers that heat up for hours but I WAS STILL COLD!

I made it downtown a little after 5 am (I took the metro and it was as packed as a normal weekday rush hour) and found my group. We were briefed on our job for the day and given our credentials while we waited for security to check us in. As volunteers for the parade we got in ahead of the general public. We had to get to our bleacher sections before the crowds did. We were charged with making sure people made it to their correct ticketed sections and had to keep our crowd organized and energized.


While waiting for security to open up, we spotted Keith Olbermann from MSNBC also waiting to get in through our gate. He was very nice and posed for pictures.

The crowds waiting for the gates to open were very energetic. We had one guy jump on top of dumpsters or something and lead the crowd in chants of "Obama!" The line went back for blocks and the moon was still out while we waited to get in.















During the hours we waited for the oath and parade, we danced and led chants and entertained the police and ourselves and met a lot of interesting people. We met police from Minnesota, Florida, Philadelphia, and Anne Arundel County, to name a few.

We met some very nice people who danced with us to stave off the cold. There were some nice ladies from North Carolina, a sweet elderly couple whose children I tried to text so they could find each other, and a family with two very cold girls. One of the girls danced with us but the other huddled under her blanket and cried. Poor thing! We danced to U2 and Stevie Wonder until Fox News turned on the country music. We tried the cotton eye joe and some dosie doe-ing but the music was a bummer after a while.












We heard President Obama's (I love saying that) speech and the oath, benediction, etc., over a loud speaker but we couldn't see it. We did see the President's new limo (aka the Beast) speed down Penn Ave along with President Bush (who was loudly booed at every occasion).

We got to take an indoor lunch break (which included indoor bathrooms) and would warm ourselves a few blocks away in the sun since our bleachers were in the shade. The 2 million people on the mall were a block away behind a security gate so we didn't see that pandemonium.


At 2 pm we started to let everyone into our bleacher section since it wasn't filled. We let in a National Guard group from Florida who treated me to pocket and boot warmers and were a really nice and friendly group. All of the police and journalists (there was a big section for press coverage including the radio broadcast next to us) were very nice. As a matter of fact, I didn't encounter any rude people the whole day.


By 2:30 pm we were more than ready to go but there was no sign of the president. We heard that Ted Kennedy had fallen ill so there was a bit of a delay. We were ready to throw in the towel because we were so cold. The paradefinally started at about 3:30 and it had started to get dark and there were snow flurries. Luckily we stuck it out. The parade started and we watched the military units march in advance of the president. Then the president's car came into view. Just when we thought we would only get a wave from the limo, he stopped the car and President Obama and the first lady got out and walked up Penn Ave waving and smiling! The crowd went wild! We were screaming with whatever voices we had left! Next came Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden. I have to say, Dr. Biden was looking pretty hot in her knee-length leather boots! After the president and vice-president went by everyone agreed it had been well worth the wait and our group started to disband.

I walked about 10 blocks to a metro and it was packed. However, it only took me a little over an hour to get home. Very organized. As a postscript, I woke up the next day at 9:30 am aching from head to toe (from all the shivering and dancing I think). I took some painkillers and then got back into bed for a work conference call. I stayed in bed for a little bit after my call but I managed to get up and shower and make it to work by 1 pm. I think I am all recovered and ready for 2013!

We experienced history - from the best seat in the house!

Over 100,000 ordinary Americans responded to a call to volunteer for the inauguration of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, and the first African American to hold this highest office in the country. Of those 100,000 the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) could only take around 15,000 volunteers to aid in making this inauguration the most open and accessible in history.

Volunteers served in a variety of ways during the weekend prior to the inauguration doing anything from organizing volunteer materials to answering phone calls to assisting special events and balls and crowd control at Sunday's "We are one" concert. Most volunteer groups on Inauguration day were around 20 strong and lead by someone selected by PIC. We were instructed to dress warm, but still business casual. Thankfully we were provided with a bright red red beanie hat, entry credentials, free handwarmer packets, and complimentary lunch from Cosi.

Volunteers showed up in their designated areas at 5am and either worked on the national mall for the swearing in cermony or on the parade route guiding the general public to through access points and ticketed areas. Among the types of jobs were Information Volunteers giving directions and providing assistance to spectators; ADA Volunteers helped individuals with disabilities get to the designated accessible areas; There were also Metro volunteers and runners deliver messages from team to team.



Contributions on this blog are from those stationed as Bleacher volunteers right along the parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue, at the very location were the new President and the First Lady stepped out of their car to walk and wave to the crowd. Though we shared similar responsibilities, we all have a unique perspective on historic moment, whether through writing, pictures, or video. Enjoy!