We're going. My son and I are going. I write about him all the time, this little eight-year-old boy - who walked in the rain and knocked on doors and faced barking dogs - has earned us two tickets to the Inauguration.
We're waiting for our tickets to arrive and have to sit on our hands we're so excited. We found a bus ride to D.C. and will leave our home at 2 a.m. for the long trip to D.C. for this special day. Today we found out where we are sitting, (and that's really why I wanted to write this diary today, to let you know that the seating chart has been released - almost used BREAKING in the title).
So my little boy and I will stand and watch President-elect Barack Obama take the oath of office and my son will know that he makes a difference in the world. That being strong and following your gut and keeping your word means something, and it is recognized as a value that will take him far in life.
Today, the Congressional Inaugural Committee released the seating chart and more information than you will ever need to know about the Inauguration -
Information about how to access the Capitol Grounds and other important information for people with tickets to the Inaugural Swearing-in Ceremonies is available on the website of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
WASHINGTON, DC – The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies today released information about the ticket and access plan for January 20, 2009. The official map of the Capitol Grounds shows the various tickets sections, identifies the colors of the tickets that correspond to each section, and identifies the most convenient Metro Stop for that sections’ entry point.
Tickets for the Inaugural Swearing-in Ceremonies will be released to Members of Congress beginning Monday, January 12, 2009. Each Member’s office is then responsible for distributing their allotment of tickets to their constituents. Members of Congress are no longer taking requests for tickets.
The 240,000 color-coded tickets were printed by the Government Printing Office and contain multiple security features to protect against counterfeiting. Every person attending the Swearing-in Ceremonies on the Capitol Grounds is required to have a ticket, including children (with the exception of infants too young to walk).
Ticketed guests must enter the Capitol Grounds through the entry point designated for their particular section. Because of the large crowds expected to be travelling to the Capitol Grounds and the National Mall, and the numerous street closures and other security measures that will impact travel routes, ticketed guests are advised to make careful plans to ensure they arrive at their designated access point well in advance of the start of the official program. Security screening gates will open at 8:00 AM, music will begin at 9:00 AM, and the formal program begins at 11:30 AM. Guests not through the screening points by 11:30 AM may not be allowed to enter.
We are two of those people who were lucky enough to receive tickets. We're not up front, but we have tickets and couldn't be happier. My son earned them for us and he is so grateful to be able stand in line for President-elect Obama - even in the cold. He's done more than that already for his new President.
My little boy wanted Obama to win right from the start. He said he had a gut feeling about him. I don't even know how we first started working on this campaign, I guess we just showed up one day at our local headquarters and said, "Put us to work."
And my little boy, who is 8-years-old, has worked for this day, harder than almost anyone I know. He put in well over 150 hours canvassing, and was even designated a neighborhood team leader by our field organizer.
My little boy knocked on doors, faced racism, walked for miles in the pouring rain, had dogs bark at him, he talked to voters - swaying dozens and dozens and dozens of them - wore out two highlighters on voter registration forms, went to volunteer meetings, hosted a debate party with me - and did it all with about five pounds of Obama buttons pinned to his sweatshirt.
After my son's first canvass - that lasted about eight hours - he sighed as he sat in his booster seat behind me and said, "I feel good today because I fought for the good of my country."
This little boy gave up his soccer and his bicycle-racing for this campaign, he missed time with friends and birthday parties. He didn't care though, as he could somehow understand that the work he was doing was important, and that there would be days to come where he could enjoy those fun times again.
I am so grateful to receive these tickets, because I feel like being part of the inauguration will show him that there is a positive result to his hard work and sacrifice, and he can stand there and be part of that positive change in his country. He inspired us all to keep going.
On his volunteer badge for GOTV, our field organizer wrote "Inspiration" for my son's title. He was probably the only eight-year-old trainer for canvasses, telling 'his' story to dozens of volunteers from neighboring states. He has inspired so many people - from the field organizers to our fellow volunteers and neighborhood team. He has been energetic and positive, and he has kept us all full of hope.
For those few months, everyone in this campaign was our family, and my son and our young field organizer pledged to be 'brothers' forever. This work got us out in our community and gave my little boy a self-esteem boost that will last his entire life. Most of all, it gave us so many moments together, just walking hand in hand, for the good of our country. These are memories that will stay with us forever.
During GOTV, my little boy worked every day with a fever, not wanting to tell me he was sick. There have been times I've been tired, wanting to quit early with our canvass and he says, "No mom, we have a job to do."
When we'd canvass, old ladies would invite him in for a soda. The men would pat him on the head and shake his hand.
When I hear President-elect Obama tell us that in the days to come, we will need to sacrifice for our country, my little boy's selflessness for the good of his country inspires me to sacrifice too. I hope it does the same for you.
Words cannot describe what this campaign has meant to our hearts. It is an experience that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. We may have to stand in line in the cold, but we will celebrate this wonderful day.
So I hope President-elect Obama knows that when he has a hard day on the job, that my son will send back to him all the strength and hope that our new President has shown to this little boy. I read once where President-elect Obama was worried that he might let us down. Well, maybe we won't have two nickels to rub together in years to come, but President-elect Obama - you've already made my son the richest kid in town.
I want to thank President-elect Obama, my little boy's hero, for being a role model for children everywhere. My sincerest good wishes go also to Vice-President Elect Joe Biden and everyone doing this important work while our children are watching. Thank you so much. You are leading by your example.
UPDATE: I put this in a comment below, but wanted to bring it up here:
I'm sitting here and the tears are rolling down my cheeks.
Thanks so much for these kind words, from the bottom of my heart.
Even if it snows or the bus gets a flat or our tickets fall out of my pocket and we never get to our seats, you all have already made this experience even more meaningful and rich than I ever imagined.
We have good friends everywhere now. You'll all be with us on January 20. I'm going to print out these comments and fold them up and put them in my pocket and take you all to Washington DC with us.
Thank you.