Melissa Golden

NEWS & POLITICS: Inauguration Day

Inauguration attendees make their way down the National Mall before sunrise on Tuesday. Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Between one and two million people came to D.C. to witness the inauguration first-hand.
   
Early risers make their way to the National Mall to get a spot close to the Capitol building at 4:53 am. Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Between one and two million people came to D.C. to witness the inauguration first-hand. Morning temperatures were in the low 20s and climbed to 28 degrees by the time of the swearing-in ceremony.
   
Inauguration attendees wait at a barricade on 7th St. SW early Tuesday morning. Security closed off many perviously advertised openings to the National Mall leaving many to walk miles before finding an entry and others with no place to go.
     
  
An inauguration attendee is illuminated by red police lights inside a barricade along 7th St. SW in Washington D.C. early Tuesday morning.
  
Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Between one and two million people came to D.C. to witness the inauguration first-hand.
   
Law enforcement officials make their way across 7th St. to cross the National Mall early Tuesday morning. The city of Washington D.C. was on high security alert for the inauguration with thousands of personnel on hand.
     
  
The Capitol Building is seen from the National mall as the sun rises Tuesday morning.
  
Inauguration attendees wait at sunrise in the general public area of the National Mall for the inauguration ceremonies to begin.
  
Inauguration attendees wave their American flags for a CNN camera early Tuesday morning. The flags were being handed out for free by volunteers along the National Mall.
     
  
Qualin Thompson, 4, of Gastonia, NC, waits for the inauguration to begin early Tuesday morning on the National Mall.
   
Inauguration attendees wait at sunrise in the general public area of the National Mall for the inauguration ceremonies to begin.
  
Inauguration attendees wait at sunrise in the general public area of the National Mall for the inauguration ceremonies to begin.
     
  
Secret Service personnel stand in their positions along the National Mall during the inauguration Tuesday.
  
The crowd cheers as Barack Obama is announced during the inauguration Tuesday morning. Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
  
The crowd on the National Mall cheers wildly as Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
     
  
Inauguration volunteer Lareina Long of Brooklyn, NY, right, cries as Barack Obama delivers his first speech as president Tuesday afternoon.