“It’s been a long day but a very exciting day,” said Smyrna’s assistant city administrator Tammi Saddler Jones on her way back to Georgia from the Capitol Monday afternoon.
Obama’s inaugural address to kick off his second term in office marked the 57th such address since President George Washington delivered the first in 1789.
Jones said it was her first time hearing the nation’s president deliver an inaugural address.
Her day began around 2:30 a.m. Monday when she, her mother-in-law from Michigan and approximately 10 others left their hotel in Washington to take the subway downtown for the event, which didn’t kick off until 9:30 a.m. with various musical performances.
Obama began his speech around 11 a.m.
“We were actually at the Capitol going through security around 6 a.m.,” Jones said.
Between 6 and 11 a.m., she said they got to know others seated in their section.
“There were people from various cities, states and countries,” she said. “I really enjoyed the diversity of the crowd today.”
In response to the president’s speech, Jones said she thought it was “very inspiring.”
“He talked as ‘we the people’ so it’s not just about him or the Congress, but it takes the whole U.S. to get together to make some very positive changes these next four years,” Jones said. “I thought it was a very, very positive speech.”
At times, she said those in her section broke out into applause after hearing portions of the address.
“It was a wonderful experience, and I look forward to sharing everything I did this weekend with my friends, family and co-workers,” she said.
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