A hush fell over Sonoma on Tuesday morning as community members gathered around their television sets to watch the inauguration of Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States.
The streets may have been quiet, but the mood was far from subdued. Locals who attended the sold-out Inauguration Ball at the Sonoma Community Center that night said they felt overwhelmed with joy and hope. Many said Obama’s speech brought them to tears.
Some locals didn’t watch the inauguration on television, but flew 2,400 miles and braved freezing temperatures to attend the ceremonies.
“It was amazing – absolutely breathtaking,” said John Iacoviello, a senior at Sonoma Valley High School. “I was surrounded by so many Americans. It was this total vibe going through everything.”
Iacoviello and Caitlyn Silkey, a sophomore, were both part of a group of 15,000 high school and college students who went to the inauguration.
“We kind of had to fight our way up there. It was crazy,” said Silkey, who also attended the concert on the National Mall on Monday.
“I thought the concert was really fun because everyone was singing along with each other in the crowd,” she said. “Also seeing Desmond Tutu and Al Gore, listening to Gen. Colin Powell.”
Another highlight was the Youth Inauguration Ball at the National Aerospace Museum with entertainment from none other than Chris Daughtry, a finalist on American Idol. “I think it was amazing – meeting those people. That’s something you’ll hold with you forever,” said Silkey.
Glen Ellen resident Stephanie Ozer was also out on the Mall on Tuesday morning. She got a call from a longtime friend a couple of weeks ago.
“She said, ‘I’ve got tickets,’” recalled Ozer. “It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
The two, who have been friends for 30 years, headed to the National Mall at 7 a.m., but even with tickets, they weren’t able to get into the staffers section. They huddled around a radio, just blocks away from the festivities.
“I was looking around at the crowd and feeling that the human potential of everyone there was being stoked, was being lit up,” said Ozer. “I really felt proud and I felt like we were given another chance. Not to sound corny, but I feel like the human race has a shot at hanging around a little longer.”
They headed to a ball on Tuesday night, but again weren’t able to get into the event.
“Show up early – that’s something I’ve learned here in Washington,” said Ozer, with a laugh. “Everyone is fast friends here in the many lines.”
She was sure they’d get into a staffers ball on Wednesday night.
“Everyone was just hugging each other and embracing each other and thanking each other for contributing to this moment,” said Ozer. “It wasn’t something outside us that made this happen. It was us.”
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