Hectic were the days leading up to the inauguration, according to U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston.
The Republican from Savannah said as his office tried to accommodate requests for tickets that flooded his office. He said he was issued 198 tickets but received more than 2,500 requests for tickets.
“It’s been hectic, we had so many visitors from Georgia come up here and we tried our best to get everybody tickets,” Kingston said as he greeted visitors to his Washington office Tuesday after the inauguration of Americas first African-American president, Barack Obama.
Here’s what some others from our area thought:
• Hinesville City Council member Charles Frasier: “I came up to Washington because it was the thing to do. Being active in the community I felt it was appropriate to have Hinesville represented.”
• Lt. Col. Bill Sutton, Liberty County High School senior JROTC instructor: “Things went good today. Everything was great. People were happy. I had the opportunity to talk to citizens from England, citizens from Italy, citizens from Ethiopia and, of course, other citizens of our great nation. They were all pleased that we seem to be united as one in support of the Obama and Biden objectives for the country. So everybody was just lovely.
“The crowd was millions; how many I don’t. We were just pleased to be at the inauguration. And of course we all had fun.”
• Nicole Carter traveled with her 13- and 9-year old sons: “I was most impressed with how people of different races, different backgrounds, different countries all came together,” she said.
“This experience to me has been the only venue I have seen in my lifetime that brought so many people together in unity and love.”
She and her family enjoyed walking around the National Mall Monday, taking pictures and talking with others.
And the two and half hours going through the security checkpoint made it worth it. At one point they were on the same block with President Obama.
“We didn’t actually see him getting out … We were at the spot when he was getting out of the car,” Carter said. “So that was amazing — just the opportunity to get a glimpse for all the hours we stood outside.”
She said during the entire trip, they saw the nation’s first black president three or four times, waving through the window of Car 44.
But they were still in earshot of the ceremony.
“When he spoke there was just complete silence,” Carter said. “You couldn’t hear a sound on Pennsylvania Avenue. It was like they were depending on him to save them from whatever’s going on.” With up to an estimated three million Americans in the Capitol, Carter is still wowed by seeing so many people.
Compiled by Lewis Levine, Lauren Hunsberger and Alena Parker, all who themselves went to Washington.
The Republican from Savannah said as his office tried to accommodate requests for tickets that flooded his office. He said he was issued 198 tickets but received more than 2,500 requests for tickets.
“It’s been hectic, we had so many visitors from Georgia come up here and we tried our best to get everybody tickets,” Kingston said as he greeted visitors to his Washington office Tuesday after the inauguration of Americas first African-American president, Barack Obama.
Here’s what some others from our area thought:
• Hinesville City Council member Charles Frasier: “I came up to Washington because it was the thing to do. Being active in the community I felt it was appropriate to have Hinesville represented.”
• Lt. Col. Bill Sutton, Liberty County High School senior JROTC instructor: “Things went good today. Everything was great. People were happy. I had the opportunity to talk to citizens from England, citizens from Italy, citizens from Ethiopia and, of course, other citizens of our great nation. They were all pleased that we seem to be united as one in support of the Obama and Biden objectives for the country. So everybody was just lovely.
“The crowd was millions; how many I don’t. We were just pleased to be at the inauguration. And of course we all had fun.”
• Nicole Carter traveled with her 13- and 9-year old sons: “I was most impressed with how people of different races, different backgrounds, different countries all came together,” she said.
“This experience to me has been the only venue I have seen in my lifetime that brought so many people together in unity and love.”
She and her family enjoyed walking around the National Mall Monday, taking pictures and talking with others.
And the two and half hours going through the security checkpoint made it worth it. At one point they were on the same block with President Obama.
“We didn’t actually see him getting out … We were at the spot when he was getting out of the car,” Carter said. “So that was amazing — just the opportunity to get a glimpse for all the hours we stood outside.”
She said during the entire trip, they saw the nation’s first black president three or four times, waving through the window of Car 44.
But they were still in earshot of the ceremony.
“When he spoke there was just complete silence,” Carter said. “You couldn’t hear a sound on Pennsylvania Avenue. It was like they were depending on him to save them from whatever’s going on.” With up to an estimated three million Americans in the Capitol, Carter is still wowed by seeing so many people.
Compiled by Lewis Levine, Lauren Hunsberger and Alena Parker, all who themselves went to Washington.