By Scot Facer Proctor

click photos to enlarge

People who live in the Washington D.C. metro know that decisions have to be made on a daily basis about what to do with one’s time.  That sounds pretty normal for anyone living anywhere.  But here, it seems, these decisions are most often based on events and happenings that are not to be missed and one is left to judge between ‘good,’ and ‘more good’ and ‘very good’ and ‘never-to-be-forgotten.’  Yesterday was a ‘never-to-be-forgotten’ event and it was something I wanted to share with you.

Those of you who have followed my photo essays for some years know that I feel a deep sense of responsibility to give you the best view possible—a front row seat, if you will—so that no matter where you live you can be next to us at an event like yesterday and never leave your seat.

I also have a deep sense of our readership and where you are in the world.  Although 87 percent of you are from the United States and many more of you who are reading outside this country may be our citizens abroad, I know that there are precious thousands of you who read this in places far from the sound of freedom’s clarion bell.  Our readership in North Korea and China is astounding.  Computers are connecting with Meridian in Iran and Vietnam and Cuba.  Readers find us in little-known nations of Africa.  I dedicate this photo essay to you quiet readers in far-away places who are only looking through a small window to the vast and distant horizon of freedom and liberty. 

What was said yesterday by President George W. Bush, I believe, will go down as one of the great speeches in the history of our nation.

Note:  We were given three tickets to the Inauguration.  Maurine and I took our nine-year-old daughter, Michaela, with us.  I am going to take you to the Inauguration as if you were coming along side us.  You will see what we saw, wait in line with us, be on the time schedule we were on.  Come along.

There was no way we were going to attempt to get into the District with our own car.  Too many road closures, tightened security and the slim chance of a park told us we had better jump on the Metro.  Maurine and Michaela hurried ahead of me.  The temperature was a solid 28 degrees (this was warm compared to the below-zero wind chills of the past two days).

Many schools in Northern Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia had an official holiday for the Inauguration.  Michaela was thrilled to come along.

With all that we had to do to finish getting Meridian out Thursday morning we left later than we would have like to—which was a mixed blessing.  There were fewer people on our Metro ride, but then, we were running quite late.

We got off the Metro at Union Station just a few blocks from the Capitol.  There were not only mounds of security personal on “the Hill” but numerous volunteers to help you with questions and directions along the way.

How are you going to feed more than 100,000 people in downtown Washington?  A few entrepreneurs took the challenge like these folks with fresh baked giant pretzels.

The dome of the Capitol was our goal.  It was now 11:20 AM (Meridian takes a long time to publish each day) and we had to hurry if we were going to see the President.

Ah!  The Blue Gate—our tickets are blue—this is our entrance to the Inauguration!  It’s clearly marked and we’re almost there.  This shouldn’t take too long.

Whoops.  This line doesn’t seem to be moving at all.  I wonder if they’ve closed the gate.  “I’ll go and ask security what’s going on and see if this is the right place.  You two wait here.”  I scurried around everyone and up the head of the line.  Yes, this was the line that would then allow you through the barricades to then get into the actual security lines before we get into the area of the Inauguration.  It’s now 11:34 AM.

Security was everywhere—on the tops of buildings, lined around the Capitol, in cars, in helicopters, on horses.  I hope we can get through this line very quickly.  The President will be sworn in at high noon.  Can’t miss that.

Click here to go to Part 2 of Eyewitness of the Presidential Inauguration