I can’t take enough pictures of the flag.  I love this symbol.  President Bush said, “Self-government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self. That edifice of character is built in families, supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran, and the varied faiths of our people. Americans move forward in every generation by reaffirming all that is good and true that came before - ideals of justice and conduct that are the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

For the most part the crowd was enthusiastic, supportive and courteous.  There were some hecklers but generally the event was unmarred by the loud voices of a few.

While we were standing here listening to the President’s speech I glanced over at the large monitor to our left and there was a nice close shot of Michaela on the screen that was being fed to national television. I was so excited and dumbfounded I didn’t have the sense to just take a picture of the screen.  We got calls from friends in Utah that said they had seen Michaela and they had taped it.

We were thrilled to hear a beautiful rendition of “God of Our Fathers” performed at the end of the ceremony.  This brought us great joy.  John Adams cited God as the “Patron of Order, the Foundation of Justice, and the Protector of all ages.”  We are indeed, one nation, under God.

People came from all parts of the nation and from all over the world to be here.  What a lot of joy this was to be together as a nation on this occasion.

The security was tight even right next to us.  So many people had crowded into to standing areas we had our own wall of security shoring up our left side as we watched the inaugural ceremony and listened to the President.

The President and the Vice-President stepped out and waved at the audience before them then they turned and went inside the Capitol and on to the other events of the day.

The wind had picked up a little bit but we hadn’t noticed the cold through the whole of the ceremonies.  I think the official wind chill was 18 degrees but, as I told Maurine, when you have this many people gathered you just stand close together and we’re all bound to be warm.

Everyone was sharing cameras with strangers asking is they would take a picture of them.  We couldn’t resist.  What a memory this was for us (and now you).  We would not have missed it for anything.

I loved seeing the Official Seal of the President of the United States.  It is full of symbolism and meaning.

One last view of the Capitol as we walked away—Oh!  Let us not forget moments such as these.  They are what make our life so rich.

The snow had been trampled by thousands as we walked off The Hill.

Constitution Avenue was prepared for the Inauguration Day Parade.  Try as we might, we could not get into see the parade.  We hurried home to watch it on television.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I saw the contrast of news reporting as we got off the Metro and walked to our car.  The Washington Times headline for the day:  Bush to Embrace Grand Agenda.  And here you see the more liberal Washington Post with the headline:  Snow and Crowds Descend on Capital. 

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