Change And Challenge: Witnessing History

A Boy, A Marine And A Child Of The Segregated South Share Their Inauguration Day Journeys

(CBS)  Everyone of the estimated 1.8 million to 2 million people in the crowd in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20, 2009, has a story about why they had to make the journey for Inauguration Day and why it was so important for each of them to witness this moment in history.

Avery Jordan, 10, was so determined to attend the inauguration ceremony he wrote to his congressman for tickets.

The fifth grader flew from Oklahoma to Washington by himself and scored seats in the VIP section with his cousin.

What does he think the election of Barack Obama says to young people like himself?

"Wow. I can do anything that I will set my mind to, no matter what color of my skin," he tells CBS News Senior National Correspondent Byron Pitts. "I can do this. I will do this."

"Barack Obama helped you believe that?" Pitts asks. "Yes," Avery replies.

Maura Sullivan flew to the nation's capital from Boston on the eve of the inauguration. The Harvard University graduate student also happened to serve in Fallujah as a captain in the Marine Corps.

"I think he'll make a great commander in chief," she says. "He never served a day in uniform -- that doesn't bother me. I think he possesses the judgment, the integrity and the other character traits that I saw in military commanders that I served for in the Marine Corps. And those leadership characteristics will serve him well in the Oval Office."

Edith Childs, 60, is a councilwoman from Greenwood, S.C., who got up at 4 a.m. on the eve of the inauguration and rode a bus for 9 hours with 30 others from her hometown just to witness history.

"There will be no inauguration without me being there," she states with pride.

Childs grew up in the segregated South and says she never thought she'd live long enough to see this day.

"I said, 'Society's not ready for a white woman and sure ain't ready for no black man.' That was my opinion," she says.

That is until she heard Obama speak. "That was all I needed -- to hear him. I was sold after that."

Childs became famous when her chant at a small rally in her hometown -- "Fired up, ready to go" -- became Obama's signature slogan.

"It goes to show you how one voice can change a room. And if one voice can change a room, it can change a city. And if it can change a city, it can change the world," Barack Obama said of the rally cry.

It doesn't matter to the people who journeyed to the the nation's capital that the new president was just a speck in the distance or that it was freezing cold or that they stood crammed together for hours. Most are just feeling thankful to be part of this moment in history.

Sullivan says race did not factor in her decision to vote for Obama.

"However, I don't think one can -- at least I can't -- detach myself from the historical significance of this day," she adds. "I'm really proud to be an American. We did a good thing.”

"I will think about all those folk that lost their lives for this moment," Childs laments. "When I think about it, I get real teary on the inside just knowing that the time has come. And that the change is gonna be better for all of us."

[edithfan]

This is a great story. Not sure if everyone else knows that a song was created based on Edith''''s chant. The song is called "Fired Up, Ready To Go" and it''''s now on a Katrina Relief album created by Bergevin Brothers Music in Seattle Washington.

You can see more about thier story at.
http://www.BergevinBrothersMusic.co
m

[irmcvet971]

The only change you''''re going to see is the change your going to have in your pockets when he''''s done. He just spent a $150 million dollars on the inauguration when people have lost their jobs, homes, and have no money for food. Quit blaming President Bush for everything. The Democrats (jellyfish) have been spending a lot of money since taking over in 2007. We won''''t hear about that from these hypocrytes. Between buying seats and not paying taxes, I think your party has enough problems. Let the corruption begin!!!!

Posted by dongo1955 at 08:57 AM : Jan 21, 2009

You sound really upset because the kiddies refused to continue to play YOUR game YOUR way! LOL When the PARTY thrown out of office borrowed a TRILLION DOLLARS to give people tax breaks, then refused to acknowledge that their Plan was driving the nation into the RED ever single day, you have NO room to throw stones at others. I don''t know all the answers but I do know, when you see MASSIVE failure... When you see a President and Political Party take over a Balanced Budget and Surplus and 6 years later you see MASSIVE Debt and RECORD Deficits... Well even YOUR 3rd grade class should understand that is the WRONG direction.

[irmcvet971]

As usual, the left shows an enormous amount of class. On a day when their new leader proclaims an end to bipartisanship, many of his followers prove there will likely be no end to the bickering and disrespect from their side.

Posted by rbcolwell at 12:28 AM : Jan 21, 2009

YOU think people were singing that because he was in the Republican Party?? Are you TRULY that ignorant? Let me guess, YOU also, think the 22% approval was because of the "Liberal" Press? You either know very little about the American People or you will do or say whatever is necessary to protect your "Party". Either way, it''s a LOSING position.

[irmcvet971]

In MY 61 Years on this Planet have I EVER been more proud of our Country or the Man we picked to lead it. We showed the entire world that we not only could talk the talk but we can Walk the Walk.

[imhalfspicy]

Yay! The first Half white president!

[rbcolwell]

Here''s a side note to this story that we haven''t seen much of on the news. A large crowd on the west side of the Capitol grounds serenaded President Bush in mocking fashion when he took to the inaugural stage alongside Vice President Cheney.

"Nah nah nah nah, hey hey, good-bye," they chanted.

As usual, the left shows an enormous amount of class. On a day when their new leader proclaims an end to bipartisanship, many of his followers prove there will likely be no end to the bickering and disrespect from their side.