I am no fool - I know that the many challenges we face as a nation will not be fixed over night or by a single person. This process is going to take years and will involve us all. We see a new level of transparency already with this Administration. The White House website is amazing with all its new bells and whistles – The Briefing Room, Weekly Address, The Office of Public Liaison, and the fresh design. There are so many ways for “We the People” to get involved and do our part to renew and restore our country. It is my hope that all the momentum generated at the grassroots level will continue to move forward and will also help to keep this Administration accountable and open. With all of our energy we can Renew America Together.

“Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions -- who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.” President Barack Obama, Inauguration Address January 20, 2009

Shortly after watching all of the Inauguration recaps and the coverage of all the Inauguration balls I thought it would be cool to learn how others were feeling about the day’s events. The request I made via email to my friends and family, was to take about five minutes to reflect on how they felt during The Moment President-Elect Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. Here are some of the responses I received:

Unable to watch the events live, folks in our office watched Obama's speech and swearing in several hours later online. There was a sense of inspiration and hope in the air that things might just begin to get better. People teared up, got goose bumps, and truly enjoyed watching a wonderful moment in our history ~ Alicia C. New York, NY

I spoke with Sarah, my 7 year old granddaughter, last night about the inauguration. Even at her age, she was moved by the power of Obama's speech. I am so grateful that she will live in a time where it is possible for any person to become the leader of this country ~ Nancy S. Topeka, Kansas

I watched the swearing in ceremony with a classroom of 4th and 5th graders. The kids were glued to the television. Someday they can tell their grandchildren where they were when Obama became president. I was moved by Obama's words, grace and dignity (and glad to see Bush/ Cheney leave) ~Amy T. Kentucky

Today, I think I know my grandfather a little better – he remembered the first telephone, the first airplane, the completion of the Panama Canal, the influenza pandemic of 1917, the first mass produced antibiotics, etc. And I always wondered if it made him feel old or privileged. As of today, I've seen the Alaskan earthquake, the first man on the moon, the first personal computer, first cell phone, and first black President of the United States. I'm going with "privileged” ~ Joe A. Seattle, WA

I wonder if my 124 million dollars could have been better spent. But I voted for Obama, so I'm hopeful that he will get down to business soon ~ Mary S. Priest River, ID

With a seven-hour time difference from Washington, DC, the evening reception to watch the swearing-in on a big projection screen was well attended. Guests ranged from an African-American colleague's visiting mother, a retired nurse in her 70s, to the Iraqi ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. When the Pakistani ambassador asked me what the occasion meant to me I replied, "It's the peaceful transition of power in the greatest country on earth ~Sandy S. Amman, Jordan

I kept thinking, "pinch me". . .we have a brilliant President again. He is saying the exact right things. He gets it ~ John D. Lawrence, KS

I know that having a president of color is a monumental occasion but to me personally, it was very easy to accept. His speech was incredible. He did not hide from the problems ahead or dodge the promises he made during his campaign. I felt so proud to be an American again and have a smart, well spoken President at the helm ~ Liz V. Kansas City, MO

To me the inauguration symbolized the fall of the power of white men. It shows the truth and reality that ours is a country of multiculturalism. People in power are beginning to reflect that diversity with not only white men in power but also black men, white women, black women, sexual minorities, and on and on ~ Julie K. Kansas City, MO

I felt proud to be an American when Barack Obama was sworn in as our President. It was amazing to see the Mall filled with a wide river of people; to see the reactions of those present at the parade(s) when President and Mrs. Obama got out of their limo to walk part of the route; to see the genuine love and affection between our President, his wife and daughters. Anyway, I was overwhelmed with emotion ~ My Mom New London, CT

Unbelievably, at around 14th St near the Washington Monument, we scaled waist-high concrete barriers and walked up a slight incline...and there it was. We saw so many people, so many people on the Mall surrounding the Washington Monument. The flags were circling the monument, and it was a sea of hats, scarves, and smiling faces. Let me say...it is a small miracle that 2 million people were smiling (we just learned there were NO arrests in DC for Inauguration), given that it was in the teens with a brutal wind chill, and many (including us) had no food or water for 7-8 hours. Casey and I shared a bottle of water, and had a protein bar during the ceremony, and bought a pretzel from a man selling items out of a grocery cart (equipped with hot coals to warm the pretzels) walking back to the metro...hadn't had anything else but that darn protein bar and heavenly pretzel from 5:30 am till about 6 pm. I won't lie, it was a tough day at the end, chilly achy bones, wind burned faces, hunger and thirst....but absolutely worth every single second. When President Obama was sworn in, we cried, and felt joy, elation, excitement, and dare I say pride and patriotism (what? What is that? It was an unfamiliar feeling and took us a moment to identify it, as we realized Dub-ya had been president for most of our adult lives). Everybody hugged...strangers in the crowd were truly united as one people. The image of their faces, the emotions, and scene on the Mall is etched into my memory forever ~ Angie B. Kansas City, MO reporting from Washington D.C.