President Obama takes office

January 20, 2009, is a defining moment in history for Americans and people around world.
The day started early for Barack Obama, who was to become the 44th president of the United States of America, the first Black man to assume the most powerful office in the western world.
His first order of business that morning was worship and praise. At 8:30 AM, he was at St. John's Episcopal Church attending service. After service, he made his way to the White House, where he had coffee with George Bush and his family.
Following about an hour of pleasantries, the Obama family and the Bush family departed by motorcade to the Capitol where they joined more than a million people assembled for one of the biggest and most joyous events in recent U.S. history.
The inauguration ceremony, running a little behind schedule, was called to order by California Senator Dianne Feinstein at about 11:40 AM and opened with a prayer by Pastor Rick Warren and a signature performance by Aretha Franklin singing ‘ My Country ‘Tis to Thee’.
At 11:57 AM, Senator Joe Biden was sworn in as Vice-president of the United States of America.
As the ceremony continued to lag behind schedule, Barack Obama officially became president before he was sworn in. (According to the constitution, he assumes the office of the president of the U.S.A at 12 noon on the day of inauguration.)
The big moment came at about 12:05 PM, when in response to the oath administered by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, Barack Obama was sworn into office. The moment was electric: tears flowed, flags were a-flutter and then the booming sounds of a 21-gun salute as the band played Hail to the Chief.
The Inaugural address that followed was one for the ages as President Obama, true to form and style, sketched a picture for his fellow Americans and the world as to what to expect from his tenure.
The inauguration ceremony also featured moving performances by an ensemble that included Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Gabriela Montero and Anthony McGill, and a rousing poem, Praise Song for The Day by Yale University Professor Elizabeth Alexander, a Pulitzer Prize nominee in 2006. (She was also a student of Derek Walcott.)
The event came to a close with an inspiring benediction from The Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery, a longtime civil rights warrior, and the national anthem was performed by the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters.
Following the Inauguration ceremonies, President and Michelle Obama participated in the Inaugural Parade along Pennsylvania Avenue, then sat in the reviewing stand where they remained until about 7:00 PM.
The President and his wife then attended 10 Inauguration Balls, six of them at the Washington Convention Centre, the other four across the city.
It was well into the morning before the President and First Lady retired to the Executive Residence for their first night sleep in the big White House.