The Inauguration of our New President

OK this is not polictical because no matter who you voted for Barack Obama will be President of the United States on Tuesday. The media is asking for our impressions of this. I am watching today's events the train trip from Philiadelphia PA to Washington DC to be like the trip President Lincoln maded from Springfield Illinois where President elect Obama launched his campaign. I only wish President elect Obama had mad the full trip from Springfield Illinois but I guess this little trip is OK. The trip is taking longer than a regular Amtrak trip from Philadelphia to Washington takes as they are going slowly so that the public can see him. I just saw the whistle stop at Edgewood MD and I cried. I am writing this with tears of joy in my eyes.
I have tried to be very cool through this whole process because at my age I remember everything that could go wrong. I am still afraid and I guess we should all pray that everything goes smoothly.

One of our choir members, Scott Nelson and family are going to Washington to see the inaugural as is my voice teacher. I hope they bring back photos and first hand accounts of the event. I don't like crowds, besides you can see it better on TV.

I did go to the second March on Washington because I happened to be in Washington DC for an American Chemical Society Meeting. I remember I went at the last minute. I decided to take the Metro and took with me only the Metro fare and my ID, no purse. This is the same security as will be at the Inauguration on Tuesday. I managed to wiggle my way to the front of the crowd on the Mall and I saw MLK and Ralph Abernathy and all the other people on the platform up front and close. I probably have photos somewhere as I never travel without a camera.

I only wish my mother and father could be alive to see this inauguration. I think my father would forgive him for being a Democrat. As a matter of fact he probably would have voted for him even though my father was a life time party of Lincoln Republican. I think he would have been fed up with the current administration and might even have been investigated for the letters he would have written to the current President. I gave a talk in church about my father and the older members of Christ Church may have read his letters to the editor of the Summit Press and the Independent Press about race.

I worked hard for the election of our President elect and I am continuing to help with the change he wants. I have scheduled a meeting of Scientists for Change which is posted on the Obama website and I attended a meeting in Bedminster of people who wanted to continue the change. Because our future President says he can't do it alone. We all must work to effect the change that will help all of us.

The UCC is going to begin the Inauguration event with a prayer service: .

The Special UCC Prayer Service and reception

Monday, January 19, 2009, 7 PM

Christ Congregational United Church of Christ

9525 Colesville Road

Silver Spring

(just inside the Washington Beltway at Colesville Road)

Sponsored by: Christ Congregational United Church of Christ, UCC Justice/Witness Ministries and the Central Atlantic Conference

Join members and friends from throughout the country!!!

Rev. Dr. John R. Deckenback
Conference Minister
Central Atlantic Conference United Church of Christ

There is another event that you could attend:

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

On January 20th Americans and the entire world will witness a truly historic event with the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.

We warmly welcome to Washington, D.C., President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters Malia and Sasha.

As part of the Inaugural Weekend at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is hosting an Open House on Monday, January 19th from 11am to 3pm at the S. Dillon Ripley Center for our exhibitions Road to Freedom and After 1968. The Ripley Center is located next to the Smithsonian Castle on the west side and can be easily reached via Metro.