Monique Flowers has been kind enough to share her photo album from her choir's recent trip to the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. with us.
It is quite a collection of neat photos depicting life on the road up there, and on the sidewalks and in the buildings of the city. There are more than 400 images in the Snapfish album, but many near the end are duplicates, so there are probably only 200-300 photos. Here's the link, (you need to be a Snapfish member, though subscribing is easy.) You may have to cut-and-paste it:
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=256386383/PictureID=6531401717/a=159578741_159378406/t_=159578741
Look close enough and you'll see photos of John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen (on a backstage monitor) and John Kerry. Flowers' choir, from Brookland Baptist Church in S.C., perform during the We Are Once concert Sunday evening before the insuguration.
Thank you, Monique!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Massive photograph shows details
of inauguration speech scene
Photographer David Berman took a series of photographs during the speech, then "stitched" them together using special software. The result is an incredible, huge photograph that you can view in full, or zoom in enough to easily make out faces. See Rep. Mike McIntyre in his cool shades, watch Yo-Yo Ma taking a photo with his iPhone, and due to a glitch in that software, you can see Aretha Franklin's beard?
Click here for the inaugural 1.47 gigapixel panoramic view and double-click to zoom in. No download required.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Jamilla's final photos
Jamilla Hawkins sent a final set of photographs from home Thursday morning after her trip to Washington.
The George Washington Univ. station, waiting to get on the green line back home.
Met some Vietnam veterans from North Dakota, with friend Ursala Dawson New Bern.
Crowds near the Washingtion Monument on I-Day.
On the National Mall with just a few (million) people between us and the new Prez.!
Ursala bundled up. We got here at 5 a.m.
Just some more capitalism at work!
The famous Obama portrait in a museum window.
Ursula out on the National Mall before sunrise on the Big Day.
More crowds!
There was plenty of enthusiasm everywhere!
There were plenty of lines everywhere...
Givinig away stencils so people can spread Obama art at will.
The messages were everywhere...
Proud of their vote.
The George Washington Univ. station, waiting to get on the green line back home.
Met some Vietnam veterans from North Dakota, with friend Ursala Dawson New Bern.
Crowds near the Washingtion Monument on I-Day.
On the National Mall with just a few (million) people between us and the new Prez.!
Ursala bundled up. We got here at 5 a.m.
Just some more capitalism at work!
The famous Obama portrait in a museum window.
Ursula out on the National Mall before sunrise on the Big Day.
More crowds!
There was plenty of enthusiasm everywhere!
There were plenty of lines everywhere...
Givinig away stencils so people can spread Obama art at will.
The messages were everywhere...
Proud of their vote.Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Monique at the staff ball
The Obama for America Staff Ball capped off the end of a two-year journey for thousands of volunteers who helped elect Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, but the message the 10,000 people received Wednesday night at the D.C. Armory was that the journey has just begun.
"It's not over," volunteer Monique Flowers said the next morning. "You still go out in the community and you help. You still continue to work and volunteer." A powerful message delivered by a powerful man, who is known to many as "Mr. President," but not to his volunteers.
"We call him Barack," Flowers said. "We don't call Michelle "Mrs. First Lady," we call her Michelle. And they were pleased to call them last night, when the couple, exhausted after attending 10 balls the previous day and many functions Wednesday, made a surprise appearance on the stage.
The high security level at the entrance to the ball was a tip-off, but the secret never got out until Vice President Joseph Biden and his family appeared and then the First Family.
"It all made us fired up all over again," Flowers said. "We were a big family last night."
Monique Flowers, right, daughter of Rev. David and Margie Flowers of Whiteville is still in Washington, attending the Staff Ball, held by President Obama to thank the people who helped in his campaign. Flowers sang in the choir that supported John Mellencamp at the We Are One concert Sunday evening.
Using a cell phone camera, she took this photograph at the ball of her with a friend and sent it to us so we could watch in envy what it's like to be a "D.C. Insider."
V.P. Joseph Biden's sister on stage at the ball.
... and the Vice President himself with his wife, Jill.
David Plouffe, the campaign manager 4 the obama camp!!!
"It's not over," volunteer Monique Flowers said the next morning. "You still go out in the community and you help. You still continue to work and volunteer." A powerful message delivered by a powerful man, who is known to many as "Mr. President," but not to his volunteers.
"We call him Barack," Flowers said. "We don't call Michelle "Mrs. First Lady," we call her Michelle. And they were pleased to call them last night, when the couple, exhausted after attending 10 balls the previous day and many functions Wednesday, made a surprise appearance on the stage.
The high security level at the entrance to the ball was a tip-off, but the secret never got out until Vice President Joseph Biden and his family appeared and then the First Family.
"It all made us fired up all over again," Flowers said. "We were a big family last night."
Monique Flowers, right, daughter of Rev. David and Margie Flowers of Whiteville is still in Washington, attending the Staff Ball, held by President Obama to thank the people who helped in his campaign. Flowers sang in the choir that supported John Mellencamp at the We Are One concert Sunday evening.Using a cell phone camera, she took this photograph at the ball of her with a friend and sent it to us so we could watch in envy what it's like to be a "D.C. Insider."
V.P. Joseph Biden's sister on stage at the ball.
... and the Vice President himself with his wife, Jill.
David Plouffe, the campaign manager 4 the obama camp!!!
The Midnight Ramblers in color
Arriving on the avenue - the Avenue!
A member of D.C.'s finest.
Obama souvenirs were everywhere!Hey, you won't believe how close we got to Obama...
Ladeen actually had her photo taken with him! Well, sort of. We saw this lifesize image of him in a drugstore and just had to get a photo.
Crowds, crowds everywhere.
We met so many people - here are just a few.
The Midnight Ramblers, rambling once again, sometime after midnight.
These are some pictures that are out there from our performance. These are our choir members behind John. We're also airing on the We Are One Inaugural Celebration on HBO. It has been airing quite a bit. I got a few seconds of face time on the clip and was excited about being on national TV. Its not my first time, but it's been a while. The ball starts at 6 p.m. tonight, so I will follow up soon.
Take care,
Monique
Rehearsal
The Show
Take care,
Monique
Rehearsal
The Show
Rep. Mike McIntyre photographs Obama
Rep. Mike McIntyre was seated behind the Inaugural podium during the inauguration ceremony Tuesday. He took a few photographs of the swearing-in and the speech so that he would have something to keep in his scrapbook, and so his constituents would as well – thanks, Representative!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Troys call it a night
Harold and Evelyn Troy of Whiteville had tickets in the "Silver" section, near the first Jumbotron, for the Inauguration today. They had to stand, but they were glad they even got in. Friends of theirs had tickets for seats in the closer "Blue" section, but something happened with security and they weren't allowed in.
Evelyn remembers "only one person that was kind of ugly," she said – not bad, out of 3 million people. They met a class of school children from St. Louis and people from all walks of life and many countries.
What the Troys saw that we couldn't see too well on television was the reaction of the crowd as people were introduced. Newt Gingrich, Joe Lieberman and Cindy McCain were all Booed, Evelyn said, though John McCain wasn't. The celebrities, including Muhammad Ali, Steven Spielberg, Magic Johnson and Beyonce' were cheered, as was Ted Kennedy, and the Tuskegee Airmen.
The Troys are staying with Evelyn's sister and plan to return to Whiteville Wednesday or, if the traffic is too heavy, maybe Thursday.
Evelyn remembers "only one person that was kind of ugly," she said – not bad, out of 3 million people. They met a class of school children from St. Louis and people from all walks of life and many countries.
What the Troys saw that we couldn't see too well on television was the reaction of the crowd as people were introduced. Newt Gingrich, Joe Lieberman and Cindy McCain were all Booed, Evelyn said, though John McCain wasn't. The celebrities, including Muhammad Ali, Steven Spielberg, Magic Johnson and Beyonce' were cheered, as was Ted Kennedy, and the Tuskegee Airmen.
The Troys are staying with Evelyn's sister and plan to return to Whiteville Wednesday or, if the traffic is too heavy, maybe Thursday.
Tale of the Midnight Ramblers
Sometimes the journey is stranger than the strangers you meet.
LaDeen Powell and her group from People's Funeral Home made an extra effort to watch the Inaugural Parade Tuesday afternoon, leaving their warm cabin in Virginia around 2 a.m. and getting into the city before sunrise.
The group walked to Pennsylvania Avenue and planted themselves on the barrier fence, determined to stake out their spot for the mid-afternoon parade. By 10 a.m. they were known to be fine and still in good spirits.
"It was an awesome day," Powell said. "I am so glad I came." She talked of all the people she met, the sights of the city, the euphoria that was pervasive throughout the event and the whole "once-in-a-lifetime" aspect of the trip. Was it worth it? Was it worth leaving Whiteville after midnight Sunday (Monday morning) to get to D.C.? Was it worth piling out of their warm cabin early, early this morning to secure a spot in the parade?
"It was so worth it," Powell said. She said that from the warmth of that cabin, which, by the way, she has been in since early this afternoon, after the "People's Party" just got so darned cold standing at the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue - cold enough to fear serious illness or even death - that they gave their prime spot on the rail (a spot close enough to watch the First Couple holding hands as they walked by) to total strangers, and they got on a train and rode back to the Algonquin, where they watched the parade on television.
And, of course, the Midnight Ramblers will be at it again, packing up their bags and leaving in the middle of the night - midnight - so they can be back in Whiteville Wednesday morning to resume business. And yes, it will all have been worth it.
LaDeen Powell and her group from People's Funeral Home made an extra effort to watch the Inaugural Parade Tuesday afternoon, leaving their warm cabin in Virginia around 2 a.m. and getting into the city before sunrise.
The group walked to Pennsylvania Avenue and planted themselves on the barrier fence, determined to stake out their spot for the mid-afternoon parade. By 10 a.m. they were known to be fine and still in good spirits.
"It was an awesome day," Powell said. "I am so glad I came." She talked of all the people she met, the sights of the city, the euphoria that was pervasive throughout the event and the whole "once-in-a-lifetime" aspect of the trip. Was it worth it? Was it worth leaving Whiteville after midnight Sunday (Monday morning) to get to D.C.? Was it worth piling out of their warm cabin early, early this morning to secure a spot in the parade?
"It was so worth it," Powell said. She said that from the warmth of that cabin, which, by the way, she has been in since early this afternoon, after the "People's Party" just got so darned cold standing at the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue - cold enough to fear serious illness or even death - that they gave their prime spot on the rail (a spot close enough to watch the First Couple holding hands as they walked by) to total strangers, and they got on a train and rode back to the Algonquin, where they watched the parade on television.
And, of course, the Midnight Ramblers will be at it again, packing up their bags and leaving in the middle of the night - midnight - so they can be back in Whiteville Wednesday morning to resume business. And yes, it will all have been worth it.
Andy Anderson Tuesday evening
Enjoying an evening meal with his family and friends in the "Little Ethiopia" district, Anderson offered a few words to describe the day: "Amazing, stellar, inspiring, emotional..." he said. "Very emotional."
He said he felt "privileged and blessed" to be there and thanked the people of Columbus County who, even from his childhood, nurtured him and guided him on the path he is on to have been able to be in that great city, in this great nation, on this great day.
He talked of meeting several men from France who traveled to the U.S. for this event, and noted that it was not unusual to see foreign visitors at what one could deem an American event. Not only was there a mix of people from different countries and ethnic backgrounds, but everyone was friendly and helpful to each other.
"It was amazing - truly amazing," he said. Well, that's all nice for a day, but will it last?
"I think there's a seed that's been planted," Anderson said. "People are leaving this place with more than a dream, they're leaving with a purpose."
He said he felt "privileged and blessed" to be there and thanked the people of Columbus County who, even from his childhood, nurtured him and guided him on the path he is on to have been able to be in that great city, in this great nation, on this great day.
He talked of meeting several men from France who traveled to the U.S. for this event, and noted that it was not unusual to see foreign visitors at what one could deem an American event. Not only was there a mix of people from different countries and ethnic backgrounds, but everyone was friendly and helpful to each other.
"It was amazing - truly amazing," he said. Well, that's all nice for a day, but will it last?
"I think there's a seed that's been planted," Anderson said. "People are leaving this place with more than a dream, they're leaving with a purpose."
International News Agency
Several international news outlets interviewed spectators on their feelings regarding President Barack Obama. This particular news agency was from Poland - Benny Pittman
Lines were loooong
Brrrrr...it's cold
We had to warm ourselves along with several others with a HOT cup of coffee from Starbucks - Benny Pittman
Our Mode of Transportation (Pittman Brothers)
The public transportation system had a total of 250,000 passengers use the Metro Rail system by 7:30am this morning - Benny Pittman
Everyone has a cause...
Even PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) were in a celebratory mood - Benny Pittman
Monique finishes one of the greatest days of her life
"Doesn't that sound great; President Obama!" Monique Flowers says after hearing the phrase on television from a room in Alexandria, Virginia after a 13-hour day Tuesday afternoon.
Exhausted, Flowers grabbed some fast food and collapsed with her friends in front of a television to renourish and take in everything that she just witnessed. Before her eyes, the greatest nation in the world just peacefully handed over power to an African-American President.
At the inauguration, Flowers had a ticket to a seat near the Capitol because she performed in the We Are One concert Sunday afternoon. Her choir backed up John Mellencamp (see previous post). She started today at 3:30 this morning to make sure she got into the city in time.
Flowers met several friends and familiar faces from Columbus County today, including Tankeisha Cutler and Deidra Smith of Whiteville, fellow volunteer Columbus2DC correspondents Evelyn and Harold Troy and the wife of Whiteville sports standout Chester McLaughlin.
Of the inauguration, Flowers said; "It was really a tear-jerking moment." That was an understatement, as the moment capped off a lifetime of dreams and kicked off a lifetime of hope.
Exhausted, Flowers grabbed some fast food and collapsed with her friends in front of a television to renourish and take in everything that she just witnessed. Before her eyes, the greatest nation in the world just peacefully handed over power to an African-American President.
At the inauguration, Flowers had a ticket to a seat near the Capitol because she performed in the We Are One concert Sunday afternoon. Her choir backed up John Mellencamp (see previous post). She started today at 3:30 this morning to make sure she got into the city in time.
Flowers met several friends and familiar faces from Columbus County today, including Tankeisha Cutler and Deidra Smith of Whiteville, fellow volunteer Columbus2DC correspondents Evelyn and Harold Troy and the wife of Whiteville sports standout Chester McLaughlin.
Of the inauguration, Flowers said; "It was really a tear-jerking moment." That was an understatement, as the moment capped off a lifetime of dreams and kicked off a lifetime of hope.
Monique Flowers watches the Swearing In
An exciting day on the National Mall.
This was our view. Not as close as on TV, but very exciting!
Lines everywhere! We were actually walking on I-295 when I took this photo. Riding the bus home, I saw people walking everywhere, even on I-95!
Andy Anderson is in position
Our correspondents are taking positions for the day. Andy Anderson has made it into the "inner sanctum" of the inauguration ceremony, and is near the stage. If you're watching TV, look for him to the right of the stage, "among a million people - a million friends" he said.
Anderson said the event so far has been amazing, and very well orchestrated. He's met people from Boston, Ohio, Chicago, NCSU and Kenya. He saw the President' motorcade twice so far, and every one of these experiences will be remembered for a long time.
The crowd was chanting "Give me an O" as he phoned in a report. That's right, his cell phone was working, shortly before 10 a.m.
Anderson said the event so far has been amazing, and very well orchestrated. He's met people from Boston, Ohio, Chicago, NCSU and Kenya. He saw the President' motorcade twice so far, and every one of these experiences will be remembered for a long time.
The crowd was chanting "Give me an O" as he phoned in a report. That's right, his cell phone was working, shortly before 10 a.m.
People's on parade route
Our contingent from People's Funeral home has a serious objective, and they weren't about to let something like lack of sleep get in their way.
Ladeen Powell, Donnie Wilson and their friends got up at 2 a.m. to catch a bus from Falls Church, Vir. and the Metro – and whatever it took – to get themselves downtown today. They are now standing on the parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of the dignitary stand.
Look on a map at the D.C. Welcome Center and the Wilson Building to see where they are. Even the most up-to-the-minute satellite photos of the route (and you can bet there are some right now) won't reveal our hardy correspondents, because they are "all bundled up" in coats and blankets, with hand and feet warmers.
"Everyone around here is so friendly today," Powell said. "It's like we're all family." Except for the cops, that is - maybe they have all been trained to be gruff today, or maybe they're just not "morning cops."
Powell has noticed a rather large amount of people from North Carolina!
Ladeen Powell, Donnie Wilson and their friends got up at 2 a.m. to catch a bus from Falls Church, Vir. and the Metro – and whatever it took – to get themselves downtown today. They are now standing on the parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of the dignitary stand.
Look on a map at the D.C. Welcome Center and the Wilson Building to see where they are. Even the most up-to-the-minute satellite photos of the route (and you can bet there are some right now) won't reveal our hardy correspondents, because they are "all bundled up" in coats and blankets, with hand and feet warmers.
"Everyone around here is so friendly today," Powell said. "It's like we're all family." Except for the cops, that is - maybe they have all been trained to be gruff today, or maybe they're just not "morning cops."
Powell has noticed a rather large amount of people from North Carolina!
Strolling on The Mall - Pittman Brothers
Walking toward the Capitol to see where President-elect Obama will officially become the 44th President of the United States of America.
His Father Had A Dream
His father had a dream. He didn't get to the promised land, but WE as people have arrived. This is Martin Luther King III. He greeted me as he departed an interview on CNN with Soledad O'Brien of CNN. - Benny Pittman
Chinatown - Pittman Brothers
Due to Ben's Chili Bowl long lines. We decided to go Chinatown and have lunch prior to going on the National Mall.
America's Finest - Pittman Brothers
These guys deserve all the credit. They give of themselves unselfishly. God Bless our troops.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Ben's Chili Bowl vs. Ward's Grill - Pittman Brothers
This is DC's version of Ward's Grill, the infamous Ben's Chili Bowl. Eventhough I've grown accustomed to Ben's half smoke and chilli dogs, my heart belongs to Ward's. Since President-elect Obama had lunch with Mayor Adrian Fenty, Ben's Chili Bowl is virtually impossible to score a hotdog. Because of this, we opted to dine elsewhere, the line snaked more than a block. (pictured: Charles Pittman) - Benny Pittman
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