Locals reflect on being a part of history

Wanting to be a part of history in the making, a dozen Inland Corridor residents left summer-like weather and braved below-freezing temperatures to witness Barack Obama being sworn-in as their nation’s 44th president.

Most of the almost two million spectators crowding The Mall in Washington D.C., on Jan. 20 did not have tickets, but wanted to be there in person to witness the historic event, even though they would only see the ceremony on huge screens.

A relatively few lucky ones acquired tickets through their congressmen or senators that could get them close to the Capitol — though they too would have to rely on screens to see the ceremony.

“Each House office received 198 tickets for distribution,” said U.S. Rep. Duncan D. Hunter. “(My office) distributed tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis, with a limit of four tickets per household.

“All of the tickets were assigned in the first couple of weeks after the election.”

Hunter, the newly elected congressman for the 52nd District, said, “This was a historic moment for our nation ... It was quite an impressive sight from my position on the Capitol steps.

“It was great to see so much enthusiasm among those who were there to witness the event.”

Here are a few locals’ experiences at the presidential inauguration:

Bergheim family of Rancho Bernardo — Christy and David Bergheim and their 9-year-old son, Andrew, traveled from their Westwood home to attend the inauguration. Because they could only get two tickets from Rep. Brian Bilbray, David Bergheim watched the ceremony with his parents in their Alexandria, Va., home while Christy and Andrew watched in person.

“I followed the election closely and was an early supporter of Barack Obama,” Christy Bergheim said. “Our son enjoys American history and followed (the election) closely as well — even doing his homework a day early so he could see the primary results.”

Because it would be “a great learning and culminating experience and we have family in Virginia” they decided to make the trip, she said.

“It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced ... the crowds were enormous and beyond imagination,” Christy Bergheim said. “But people were friendly, calm, spirited, joyful, celebratory and not scary.

“It was like being with two million friends ... though logistically it was a challenge.”

The duo got off the Metro in Arlington, Va., and walked about four miles to and from the ceremony (a church offered returnees to the Metro food and a place to warm up). They walked or stood for most of the 12-hour experience.

Though very cold, Bergheim said, “I jumped and cheered and screamed after the oath. The crowd roared.”

“It was really, really cool just (to) witness such an important historic day,” Andrew Bergheim said. “The first African-American president is a really important thing.”

Eardensohn family of Poway — Lauren Eardensohn, 25, a graduate student at George Mason University in Virginia, and her brother, Christopher, 17, a senior at Poway High, received tickets through Hunter.

“This is a very historic event,” Lauren Eardensohn said. “More than anything else it was really cool to be with almost two million people to see the inauguration.” Lauren Eardensohn said.

“We were at the base of the reflecting pool ... (and) could not see a whole lot more than the TV screen ... but it was more about the feeling of being there ... and we could hear everything.”

The siblings also attended the New Jersey Garden State Ball, an unofficial event, which she said “was really cool for both of us.”

She described the crowd as “totally electric and emotional,” adding “everybody was so excited to be there.”

Eardensohn said everyone was “surprisingly polite,” even on the Metro. “I expected them to be more pushy than they were, but everyone was just looking out for everybody else. Considering there was two million (there), that was an impressive thing.”

She added, “I really do believe that I will not forget that we braved under 20 degree weather (to attend). I won’t regret it ... (though) I think it was more exciting for my little brother who is a senior in high school learning about (this) and living it (too).”

Judy Ki of Poway — “I had outstanding tickets in the seated area up front,” said Ki, who on inauguration day also went to a reception for San Diegans hosted by Rep. Bob Filner and the Western Region Ball, one of the official balls in which the Obamas and Bidens made appearances. That weekend she also attended the California Bash in the National Air and Space Museum and the “We Are One” concert at the Lincoln Memorial.

Ki said she wanted to attend because as a retired teacher, “I’m now able to do stuff like that” and “this is really a historical event.

“As a Chinese-American (I say) we as a country have come a long way. (The election) was not all about race, but to me that was very special.”

Though going with “no expectations,” Ki said she was impressed by how well-run the event was — including security.

“It was most pleasant,” she said. “(Locals) were very friendly to us and visitors were in such high spirits.”

She said the event did not become “real” to her until she saw Obama walking to the stage.

“There was a wave of sound (from the crowd and) ... that (his inauguration) was really happening was pretty awesome,” Ki said. “I surprised myself by not crying, though it was very emotional for me as a naturalized citizen who is very patriotic.

“Over the last eight years, if you were more liberal, you were called not patriotic and I disagree with that,” she added.

“I’m just glad I (attended) even though it was physically challenging,” Ki said.

Powell and Wolfe family of Poway — Kim Wolfe-Powell, her husband, Michael Powell and her sister, Charese Wolfe (all Poway residents) received tickets from Hunter.

“We were standing, packed like sardines and if you dropped something, good luck picking it up,” Wolfe-Powell said. “It was very crowded but was well worth it.”

Her favorite memory was seeing the Obama family pass by in the limousine during the parade.

“He waved back, that was the most thrilling part,” Wolfe-Powell said. “(The inauguration) was very overwhelming and I don’t think the enormity of it hit me until the next day. I’m African-American so it had special meaning for us. It makes me want to cry (with happiness).”

Despite spending a few thousand dollars on airline tickets, accommodations, and walking and standing for about eight hours, she said the experience was “priceless” and receiving ceremony tickets made her feel like she “won the lottery.”

“This is a day we never thought would happen,” Wolfe-Powell added.

“I felt like when I was asleep the world had changed,” Powell said. “It’s one of my most moving experiences.

“I’m so happy I came because so many people here have been nice and cordial with each other,” he added. “This was the real United States of America right here. It’s hard to explain my feelings — I’ll just never be the same person.”

Powell said he was “mesmerized” by the experience that he never thought would happen in his lifetime, adding he wished his parents could have seen it too.

Richardson family of Rancho Penasquitos — Winning a trip for two — but no tickets — to the inauguration did not deter Cecelia Richardson and her daughters, Olivia, 16, and Ashley, 19, from attending. Olivia, a junior at Serra High School, won the trip through the College Bound program that meets at Westview High.

“I was so excited,” Cecelia Richardson said, adding she decided to pay for her older daughter to go with them. “I wanted both to experience it.”

The prize came with one requirement — that they videotape interviews with other attendees so the experience can be shared with the other College Bound students.

“It was great for them to see history in the making, to be in the presence of all these people ... (from) all over the world,” their mother said, adding they were especially encouraged to see older people with walkers in attendance because of this inauguration’s historical significance.

Because they were tired, cold and did not eat for 12 hours, Richardson said they also learned about perseverance. “You do not know what you have in you, until you have to use it.”

Ashley Richardson said she was “excited and stoked” to be there and her favorite memory is talking with a group of women in their 60s and 70s who told them about participating in the march on Washington with Martin Luther King Jr.

“(The inauguration) was very cool, awesome and worth it,” she added.

“It was interesting to witness history,” Olivia Richardson said. “A lot did not have the chance to be in my spot ... and if I ever have kids, I can say I witnessed the first black president (being sworn-in).”

Kathy Roberts of Poway — “It was an incredible experience, being one member of a collective group of people with such good will, anticipation, hope and faith,” Roberts said. “It was a joyous event to mark the beginning of a new era of our country.”

Roberts received her ticket through Sen. Dianne Feinstein and with friends attended the inauguration and a post-inauguration reception hosted by Rep. Bob Filner for San Diegans. She said their experience “was remarkably easy ... (though) we prepared fully for whatever it took (to be there).”

She said, “lots of people had the common, focused goal of experiencing and witnessing the history-making event.”

One thing Roberts said “struck” her was people’s desire to share with those nearby the story of why they were there and why this inauguration was so meaningful to them.

The election of an African-American president is “a day I always hoped for,” Roberts said, adding Obama was “the right person at the right time for the job.”

Roberts said she not only attended for herself, but by sending pictures to her family and friends back home during the ceremony, she felt like she brought them along as well.

“Even though it was extremely cold, at the height (of the ceremony) there was a collective warmth that suppressed the temperature and (I) did not feel the chill,” Roberts added.