My day at the inauguration
I was super excited to witness history in the making, the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama taking the oath of office for the
second and last time.
My editor Dante and I met early in the morning to make our way to the designated area where we had tickets. By the time we got there, tens of thousands of people had already gathered on the National Mall and more were yet to come. They had started pouring in since before sunrise, even though the ceremony was scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
Everywhere I looked I saw folks wearing inauguration memorabilia: buttons, hats, scarves, flags, bagsand backpacks, and even jackets with the presidential seal. People had come from all over the country to be together for this momentous occasion. I spoke with members of a family who came from Florida, Georgia, New York, and Texas for a reunion on the National Mall on Inauguration Day!
A crowd of great diversity was making its way slowly but
steadily towards the Capitol Building. Kids of all ages, parents, and
grandparents tried to find a spot in front of the giant screens placed
strategically on the Mall. The atmosphere was charged with boundless energy as
the crowd was anticipating the President’s oath and speech.
Everywhere you went was jam-packed with people. Dante and I had tickets for the South Standing area. Because no one seemed to be checking tickets once we were inside, we moved with the crowd to the West Standing area. It was mobbed by thousands of people. At one point we were even squashed between a massive crowd and the doors of a port-a-potty!
We decided that we could spend hours standing between a bathroom door and a mass of people. So we walked around until we found a spot where we might be able to see one of the massive TV screens set up in front of the Capitol. We ended up in a very unfortunate position, with no view of either the event itself or the screen. We moved around trying to catch a glimpse of the President — or anything else —without much luck.
When the moment finally came for the presidential oath and President Obama's inaugural address, any frustration we had was gone. This was history! Hundreds of thousands of American flags flew in the air as one, and a huge roar rose from the masses. People listened intently to the “our journey is not complete” speech, nodding and cheering when the President hit the right note.
At the end, the crowd exploded after each of Kelly Clarkson’s and Beyoncé’s performances, and then, in less than an hour, the National Mall was almost cleared. It was weird to see the lawn so empty after just minutes before being so full. And it was upsetting to see how much garbage the thousands of people left behind.
After the ceremony was over we tried to reconnect with my mom, but because so many streets were closed or blocked it took us almost two hours to cover what could have been a block’s distance.
We eventually all found each other. But we were all cold, tired, and exhausted — not to mention hungry and thirsty — that we needed to find a warm place to rest up. We ended up at the Smithsonian Castle where we had a working lunch at its cafe.
After a couple hours, we thought we waited out most of the crowd. But when we emerged an hour and a half later we discovered Inauguration Day was still in full swing. My mom and I said goodbye to Dante and tried to make our way to the closest Metro station. It took us another hour and a half to essentially cross the street because we were diverted around so many blocks. While the police, Secret Service, and Army personnel were very pleasant and good natured, I heard many people and reporters complaining that security for the inauguration was not handled very smoothly.
Despite these inconveniences, I was very proud to have been
witness to this event. Even though it wasn’t quite what I expected, it was a
great experience that I will never forget.
Check out my story about Inauguration Day on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website!
—Kid Reporter Hannah Prensky
Photo: Kid Reporter Hannah Prensky in front of the Capitol Building after the inauguration. (Dante A. Ciampaglia/Scholastic)
HEY GREAT ARTICEL.ONE OF THE BEST EVER.NO THE BEST.HOW COLD WAS IT?HOW LONG WHERE YOU THERE?DOSE YOUR FEET HURT.WERE PEOPLE MEEN TO YOU
Posted by: SETH.P | 01/25/2013 at 09:58 AM
Your article was great Hannah! If i went i would be so confused, i wouldnt know where to go or what to do either!!! I think amazing that teens your age would actually go to the Presidential Inauguration! Today most teens wouldnt even watch it on the telivision screen. So what u did was amazing Hannah! Please post more blogs so i can read!! If I was there in replacement of you I would be so excited and nervous! I wouldnt know what to say or write especially considering you were stuck between port-a-potty doors. You make me inspired to write because you proved that by writing you can go to amazing places. Hannah i would be very proud to be so sucessful at a very young age!!
Posted by: Danielle N. | 01/25/2013 at 12:24 PM
wow great article
Posted by: danielle | 01/25/2013 at 12:32 PM
Great job Hannah!If I was there I would be excited to go there.Hannah,were you scared to go at first?
Posted by: Shane.F | 01/25/2013 at 12:34 PM
Great jod hannah!If I was there I would be excited.
Posted by: Dylan.R | 01/25/2013 at 12:34 PM
Dear Hannah,
That was a great article.I wish I was there kind of there was awful lot of people there though but I did watch it on televisoin. All those things you talked about seemed so fun except the port of potty thing. Your such a great reporter I wish I could be you assistant or somthing. I loved that article Hannah your such a wonderful reporter!!!!!!! :)
Your Friend,
Sarah M.
Posted by: Sarah M. | 01/25/2013 at 12:52 PM
Great job Hannah.That artice was great.If i was there i would have been so nervous. How was it seeing the president? Once again that was a really good artice keep up the good work:)
Posted by: Maddie H | 01/25/2013 at 12:54 PM
Great job Hannah, your arcticle was awesome. I know if i was there i would be scared and nervous because i have never been around someone so famous. What was your first thought when you saw the president?
Posted by: Emily L. | 01/25/2013 at 12:55 PM
what a great article Hannah!I would not imagine having that much Iauguration clothes.
Posted by: elizabeth s | 01/25/2013 at 12:56 PM
I think you wroat an awesome article Hannah. If I got to meet the president I would be nervous and scared.
Posted by: James W | 01/25/2013 at 01:11 PM
Hi Hannah, great article! I would probably get really lost and confused from all the big crowds and where to find the place to give your tickets. Was it cool to see the president take his oath to the country? Would you wamt to take the excperience again to see the next president take the oath? Congrats on your article and i can't wait to hear what you have to write next about your cool advwentures. I wish that I was you:)
Posted by: Zoey H:) | 01/25/2013 at 01:12 PM
Hannahthe article was great i really liked it.but i didn't like the part where you got pushed in to the port-a-potty.:(
Posted by: Hunter R. | 01/25/2013 at 01:17 PM
Wow Hannah, you are amazing! I bet it was fun to be in our nations capitol. I would have been very overwhelmed, I bet you were too! How did it feel to see Barack Obama being sworn in and taking the oath for our country???? Great job on your artical!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jaden N. | 01/25/2013 at 01:22 PM
It must have been very exiting to see our President Barak Obama take the oath of office. You actualy gotten the chance to witness history up close,thats just incredible. Great job Hannah!
Posted by: Nereida A. | 01/25/2013 at 01:25 PM
Hey Hannah! Your article was great! Was it funny getting to go to capital and being near the president of the United States of America? Keep up the good work!
Posted by: chan-man | 01/25/2013 at 02:06 PM
Awesome hannah! That mustve been a very fun experience if that were me i wouldve defenently enjoyed that, especially getting to meet the president! that is one of my life long dreams! were as many people there as you were expecting, or more? I hope you had a great, special, fun, encouraging time!
Posted by: Abby T. | 01/25/2013 at 02:08 PM
That was a great article!If i went i probably would not have to much fun because i voted for Mitt Romney!But i think it would be cool to go see the capital!
Posted by: Katelyn B. | 01/25/2013 at 02:11 PM
That is a cool article that you typed!I would like see this event,it sounds very interesing.I voted for Mitt Romnney,so I probely wouldn't have as much fun.I bet it was cool to almost see the president.Again,great job!
Posted by: Michael N. | 01/25/2013 at 02:14 PM
Hey Hannah!If I had to report I would be NERVOS!How was it when you went to the capital i would be so scared if I was you and went to the capitol.Do you like a big crowed weell i dont I like to have space.your artical was awsome
Posted by: Broklyn w | 01/25/2013 at 02:17 PM
Hey Hannah what an article it was great.I got a question how did it fell to be around the president? GREAT JOB HANNAH KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
Posted by: Tanner M. | 01/25/2013 at 02:32 PM
Hannah you did such an amazing job you totally did amazing. It must have been a little scarie being in such a big croud. Anyway you i would be terriefed. Your blog was just amazig and i think the discreption you put was just amazing i felt like i was actullay there when i read your blog.It is amazing that you were such a amzing writer you chosen to do that.Amazing job :):)
Posted by: Trinity w | 01/25/2013 at 02:35 PM
Wow you must have had alot of fun! i would have been kind of scared but excited at the same time. I would have been excited because I would love to see the president in person.But I also would have been scared to be surounded by all those people. great job hannah!
Posted by: Myha S | 01/25/2013 at 02:41 PM
Great job Hannah that was the greatest article I have ever heard in my life keep up the great work.
Posted by: Will.M | 01/25/2013 at 02:55 PM
Great job hannah, that is a great article. I bet it has fun meeting the president and seeing what he does. I wish I could go there to.
Posted by: Dillon H | 01/25/2013 at 03:01 PM
Great article Hannah. I would be so scared to meet Barack Obame for the fist time and was it weird to be around a bunch of peolpe and you must be pleased that you got to go to the inauguration and was there so much trash was there food to eat was there trash cans for peolpe to throw away. Thats all i have right know I you like my post good job Hannah.
Posted by: Danielle.p | 01/25/2013 at 03:02 PM