Obama's Inauguration: A New Birth of Freedom

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Millions Expected to Attend and Tune In to History Making Inauguration
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Inauguration/story?id=6683305&page=1

They streamed in throughout the night to claim spots closest to the Capitol steps so they could watch history made on a day that would begin with the solemnity of Barack Obama in a Washington church and end in the fanfare of trumpets playing "Hail to the Chief."

Obama and his family will pray this morning at St. John's Church, Lafayette Square, the so-called "Church of Presidents" where commanders-in-chief dating back to James Madison have knelt and bowed their heads before taking the oath of office.

It will be the start of a day filled with traditions and significance, but those hallowed acts will take on the added historic power -- and for many bolster the proceedings' sense of exhilaration -- as they are carried out for the first time in 220 years by an African American.

History at today's inauguration, however, is more than just the sum total of centuries-old customs and pageantry.



Crowds gather early on the National Mall for the swearing-in ceremony for President-elect Barack Obama in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
(Ron Edmonds/AP Photo)