Good Evening from NOVA ! That's what they call Northern Virginia in these parts...as I'm writing this at the end of a very long day of travel as we prepare to 'witness history' on Tuesday with the inauguration of Barack Obama as the nation's 44th president.
Our AAA Travel tour bus departed from Camillus just before 8:00 this morning with 28 people aboard, including two sisters from California who had flown the night before to Syracuse to be a part of this trip. Also on board was a mother and daughter from outside Hartford, CT...and, of course, our "Witness to History" contest winner, Tanisha Graves of Ithaca.
We had to deal with some snowy weather early this morning, and some detours in Pennsylvania that delayed our arrival time in DC. Our tour guide Kim Canino kept us all up to date on our progress...and I have to give kudos to our bus driver, Charles, who meandered through all the congestion with ease.
Once we made it to Washington, the enormity of this event was evident all around us - the traffic, the throngs of people, the lining of the National Mall with porto-johns...the flags draped on the west front of the Capitol. In fact, we were driving across the Mall just after the Inaugural opening concert was letting out at the Lincoln Memorial (the Obamas and Bidens were in attendance).
After a short stop at the National Museum of Crime and Punishment, it was on to Pier 7 restaurant for a wonderful dinner and then out to the hotel in Manassas, VA.
Dave, Tanisha, and Geoff
Boarding the Bus
Tanisha Heading to DC!
Day 2 - 1/19/09
I called Dave in the studio this morning from Manassas, VA, and talked about the trip down and the atmosphere the day before the inauguration. Witness to History contest winner Tanisha Graves chimed in with her perspective.
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Preparations
After a day spent mostly on my feet, we are just hours away now from Barack Obama becoming the 44th President of the United States!
Day two started with a visit to the CBS News Washington bureau in order to pick up media credentials for Dave and myself. These will give us access to the west front of the Capitol where the inaugural ceremony takes place at Noon Tuesday.
After passing through security, I was able to check out our broadcast position for the Morning Newswatch Tuesday morning. I'd say we're within 100 yards of the platform where the president-elect will take the Oath of Office.....simply an incredible view, and quite literally a front row seat!
It was then on to do a couple of interviews .... first former Ithaca Common Council member Michelle Berry, who was a delegate for Barack Obama from the 22nd congressional district at last summer's Democratic National Convention.
My second interview was with one of our area's two congressmen, Michael Arcuri. Both interviews can be heard Tuesday morning during our coverage.
By the way, thousands of people stood in line for an hour or more to get into the House office buildings in order to pick up their inauguration tickets. I met people from Wisconsin, Chicago, Alaska and Boston standing in lines that went around the block!
We've talked a lot on the air about the 5,000 porta-johns set up along the National Mall and side streets...and it's no joke - they're everywhere, just as are the vendors selling all kinds of Barack Obama/Inauguration-related memoralbilia.....shirts, scarfs and knit hats seem to be the most popular....along with buttons, buttons and more buttons.
Security is unprecedented...you can't walk a block without seeing city police officers or National Guardsmen...and the city's Metrorail system is absolutely packed, but by all accounts the trains have been pretty much on time and things have run smoothly.
I am struck most by what can only be described as a 'euphoric' mood among people. Everyone, it seems, is happy to be here and in a festive mood...and full of promise and hope for the future of their country....no matter their political affiliation or whether they voted for Barack Obama or not. It's an experience all who are here for this moment will not soon forget, and if they were at all like me today, they found themselves smiling a lot!
Our View
Geoff & Michelle Berry
Geoff & Michael Arcuri
Porto-Johns!
Obama Merchandise
Capitol Steps
Day 3 - 1/20/09
This morning I spoke with George Washington University freshman Josh Goldstein, discussing the inauguration festivities from a local's perspective.
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More Preparations
My interview with 22nd congressional district delegate Michelle Berry, discussing her excitement for the presidential inauguration.
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Our Broadcast Booth
I sat down with 24th District Congressman Michael Arcuri in his Washington office to discuss the excitement surrounding inaugural events and future work on Obama's proposed economic stimulus plan.
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Ready to Broadcast!
'What a breathtaking site!' The National Mall in Washington DC was filled with an estimated two million people - a new record - to witness history, the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States! Obama is the first African-American elected to the nation's highest office, and his message of hope and change resonated with people of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicity.
Dave Vieser and I had a front row seat, a mere 50 to 60 yards from the podium on the West Front of the US Capitol. But getting to our broadcast position was a challenge, to say the least. We knew there would be transportation issues, but didn't expect a mile and a half back up at the exit of the Metro station at 3:45am!
Once we got inside Washington, we then had to go through security before setting up and getting on the air just before 8am. We continued to provide updates until CBS took over coverage of the inaugural ceremony at 11:00.
Barack Obama was welcomed by thunderous applause...took the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts and delivered a relatively short inaugural address in which he said the challenges we face as a country are real, and wll not be met easily....but 'know this, America - they will be met!'
Other highlights for me were Aretha Franklin performing "My Country Tis of Thee" (No....I don't know what she was wearing on her head!), and the introduction of the three surviving former Presidents (Carter, Bush and Clinton), as well as the outgoing President Bush.
I also spotted New York Senator Charles Schumer, and local congressman Maurice Hinchey.
Three long days have come to a close....it's back to Ithaca on Wednesday...but I wouldn't have traded this opportunity for anything!
