"For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth. For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn."

Though he placed most of the responsibility for remaking America squarely on all of our shoulders, the weight on my shoulders felt instantly lighter. Why? Because our leader knows that our neighbors and our friends are in pain. We now have a president that believes in fairness and kindness. Obama brought the message that he agrees with us that it's not the size of government that matters - what's important is how effective government is.

We've yearned in these desolate years for a leader that knew we were not proud of what we had become.

Take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential. - Barack Obama

This week Parade Magazine published a letter that President Obama wrote to his daughters, Malia and Sasha. As I read the new president's words, it became very clear that this man is first and foremost a dad who loves his children. As I thought more about the content of his letter, I realized that the message here could serve well as an agenda for our work. Take a moment to read his letter...

Martin Luther King, Jr. used these words to describe the March on Washington over 40 years ago. Not surprisingly, Dr. King's words accurately describe the emotion, celebration, strength and passion that we too can bear witness to these next few days in our nation's capital (again). Only this time, the celebration involves the whole country:

Washington is a city of spectacles. Every four years imposing Presidential inaugurations attract the great and the mighty. Kings, prime ministers, heroes, and celebrities of every description have been feted there for more than 150 years. But in its entire glittering history, Washington had never seen a spectacle of the size and grandeur that assembled there on August 28, 1963.

Among the nearly 250,000 people who journeyed that day to the capital, there were many dignitaries and many celebrities, but the stirring emotion came from the mass of ordinary people who stood in majestic dignity as witnessed to their single minded determination to achieve democracy in their time.

They came from almost every state in the union; they came in every form of transportation; they gave up from one to three days' pay plus the cost of transportation, which for many was a heavy financial sacrifice. They were good-humored and relaxed, yet disciplined and thoughtful. They applauded their leaders generously, but the leaders, in their own hearts, applauded their audience. Many a Negro speaker that day had his respect for his own people deepened as he felt the strength of their dedication. The enormous multitude was the living, beating heart of an indefinitely noble movement.

It was an army without guns, but not without strength. It was an army into which no one had to be drafted. It was white, and Negro, and of all ages. It had adherents of every faith, members of every class, every profession, every political party, united by a single ideal.

It was a fighting army, but no one could mistake that its most powerful weapon was love.

As of this writing, I am being whisked down the New Jersey Turnpike, in a RV, accompanied by two inspired human souls and another inspired soul of the canine persuasion. It is approximately 6:15am.

Similar to the way I felt drawn to be in Denver, for the coronation of a once lone Junior Senator from the Land of Lincoln who is now the President-Elect, I am now experiencing that familiar feeling of the spiritual, that is spiriting me toward Baltimore, Maryland, to witness one of many pre-inaugural events at a train stop enroute to inauguration day. My online sources seem to suggest that there will be a rally at War Memorial Field in Baltimore later this day.

My accompanying hosts are Mr. Stephen Germano, a resident from Linden Long Island (New York) who happens to be a great videographer, and Rick Gunter, a New Jersey resident (formerly of Mount Vernon, New York) who is our resident photographer. Stephen and I met before when he came to cover my interview of another phenomenal Every Day Citizen contributing author’s, Kevin Willmott, a filmmaker, New York City film debut of Bunker Hill. Coming soon to a blog near you!

Casey, Stephen’s beautiful golden retriever, is providing au naturale unconditional love. It is a beautiful brisk wintery day and God is in full glory providing a beautiful sunrise as we pull into the first turnpike gas station for a fill up of the tank to ensure our safe and timely arrival to Maryland.