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They watched the Inauguration

By Staff | Jan 26, 2009

These fifth grade students at Mirror Lakes Elementary School in Lehigh watched the Inauguration on TV at home because there were no schools open that day. They are from left to right, Jeremiah Miller, Jonah Petrick, Judette Pierre, Olga Esmurdoc and Brienna Hernandez.

As the eyes of the nation watched the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, so were many in Lehigh, from students who were off from school to a 101-year-old woman who lives at the Sterling House on Business Way in Lehigh.

Evelyn Foss, who said she was a Republican, but didn’t vote in November, was 101 years old on Nov. 14.

She wanted to see the Inauguration so much that she asked the kitchen staff at the Sterling House if they would bring her lunch to her small apartment within the complex.

“I wanted to see it happen … I enjoyed it in one sense, but I learned more when I listed to the commentaries on television,” she said.

“I didn’t think an African American would be elected in my life time, but it happened and I wanted to see it all, the swearing in, the parade, all of it,” she said.

Evelyn Foss

And she did. The staff at Sterling House made sure her lunch was delivered to her on a tray so she could sit in front of her TV set and watch the proceedings.

“I had to turn it up really loud because my hearing is not good,” she said. “But I closed the door to the hall and sat back and watched.”

Foss remembers when women in the U.S. were not allowed to vote. The 19th Amendment was passed in 1920 and after that, when she was old enough, she said she voted in most elections.

“I remember back in – I think it was around 1912 – when my dad went to vote. My mother and my sister were in the car and we sat inside the car until he came out,” Foss said. She wondered when the day would come when women would vote like men, she said. “My dad loved politics and I do, too,” she said.

On Nov. 5, 1912, Woodrow Wilson was elected to be the nation’s next president of the United States. Eight years later is when women were allowed to vote.

Esther Vargas

“My grandmother lost two brothers in the Civil War and she always blamed it on Abraham Lincoln. She didn’t like him at all,” she recalled.

When asked if she thought America was ready for President Obama, she replied that she sure hoped so.

“I hope he can handle it. I didn’t like some of what Obama has said about Former President George Bush.

But five fifth grade students at Mirror Lakes Elementary School were very optimistic about the election of Obama. Schools were closed that day but many students, along with their parents watched the historic event on TV at home.

Jeremiah Miller, 10, said he was happy to see the first African American sworn in.

Herbert Robinson

“I was really excited. I probably watched the ceremony and the parade four hours. I think it’s great. Now I know that as an African American boy, I can become President,” Jeremiah said.

Jonah Petrick, 11, said he also “watched most of it.”

“I saw the swearing in at my brother’s house. He came home from work to watch it.

“I was just amazed because it’s history. I watched for two to three hours. I think Obama will be a good President. I even have it recorded in the satellite box to watch over again. It’s something I will never forget,” Jonah said.

Judette Pierre, 11, said she spent the whole day watching the Inauguration.

President Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech on TV on Inauguration Day.

“It was awesome. It’s history and for an African American to become President made me very proud. I think he can become one of our greatest presidents from what he says he wants to do,” Judette said.

“And his two daughters living in the White House. That is so cool,” she said, smiling.

When asked what she thought Obama should do now that he is President, Pierre said she hopes he does something to help the economy.

“A lot of people are losing their jobs and he needs to do something to help in what’s happening in our country,” she said.

Olga Esmurdoc, 10, said her mom woke her up that morning to start watching the pre-inaugural coverage on TV.

“She loves Obama and she said it is an historical event and wanted me to witness it.

“It was awesome. I got watery eyes and mom did too. I think President Obama will do good things. I read a book about his life and I am going to do a school project on him,” Olga said.

Brieanna Hernandez, 10, said she thought it was exciting that Obama was sworn in the day following Dr. Martin King Jr. Day.

“I know that Dr. King talked about having a dream that something like this would happen. I think it’s part of the dream, the beginning.

“It was very exciting to watch. I watched it with my Dad who was home all day. He voted for Obama,” Brieanna said.

“His two little girls are so lucky to be living in the White House. Their lives are going to change. I think it would be interesting to live in the White House,” she said.

Brienna also said she hopes one of the first things Obama does will be to bring the American soldiers home from Iraq as soon as possible.

Lehigh resident Mark Smith, 33, said that he watched the inaugural ceremonies and thinks that Obama will deliver on his promises.

“I think the Inauguration was symbolic of unity and that is what we need in this world of black and white, that no matter what color you are, anything is possible and by accepting his presidency, he is not just the President, but he has represented all the human race … that nothing is impossible.

Smith was asked if he thought Obama would do a good job as President.

“Yes, he is a brilliant speaker and has energized the nation with an outlook of what is to come and definitely there will be a clean break from former President Bush. Even though he has a lot of clean-up, I think he will not disappoint our nation,” Smith said.

But another Lehigh resident doesn’t think Obama is up to the job.

Herbert Robinson, 79, a resident of Sterling House in Lehigh, said he watched all the pomp and ceremony.

“But I don’t feel he is capable to be President, but I wish him all the best,” Robinson said.

He said he voted for John McCaine last November and is a Republican.

“I thought it was possible that an African American might be elected President in my lifetime and it happened,” he said.

Robinson said he has lost money due to the stock market and the problems the banks are having in this country.

“I sure do hope he can turn the economy around. I read one of his books and it was terrible. I didn’t like what I read,” Robinson said.

Another Lehigh resident saw it differently.

“It was history and millions of people were there and were looking at TV from all over the world to see this man become our 44th President,” said Esther Vargas of Lehigh.

“I have a lot of hope. I think he will be a good President if he sticks to his guns and does what he promised during the campaign,” Vargas said.

“He’s got four years and who knows, if he is successful, maybe another four. It’s interesting to be living now and watching history taking place,” Vargas said.

You can visit http://www.pic2009.org/whitehouse to learn about the Obama Administration’s plans to bring change to America, and how you can become involved.