PORT TOWNSEND — Sometimes you have to cry before you sing.
Just after 9 a.m., as Barack Obama took the oath of office and became the 44th president of the United States, Port Townsend resident Matt Sircely started to cry.
“It just surprised me how emotional I got all over again,” said Sircely, chairman of the Jefferson County Democrats.
Almost 12 hours later, Sircely was singing out Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” to a crowd of hundreds at the Jefferson County Democrats’ “Yes We Can-Can” inaugural ball.
Sircely said it was when Obama talked about American ideals that he got choked up.
“Perhaps the strongest statement of change from the Bush administration was when Obama said, ‘We reject as false the choice between safety and our ideals,'” Sircely said.
“He was citing the importance of the rule of law and the rights of man. It struck a chord with me.”
Sircely said the other poignant moment for him during the speech was when Obama addressed the Muslim world.
‘Powerful ideals’
“He spoke of mutual interest and mutual respect,” he said. “Those are far reaching and powerful ideals.
“I think that applies to more than just our interaction with just the Muslim world.”
Feelings across the country in Washington, D.C., were just as strong.
Burt Howells, a Port Townsend resident who attended the inauguration ceremony in the nation’s capital, said tears were common.
“I’m looking at the faces of these people in the crowd who were just crying,” Howells said.
“It was an hour before the event started, and nothing was going on and people were in tears.
“I get emotional when I hear the national anthem, so of course I was too.
“It was just stunning, just a marvelous experience.”
Howells said he arrived early to watch the inauguration with his two daughters.
“We got there, but we were still way in the back,” he said.
“There were so many people, but the crowd was just so lovely, so happy and so huge.
“It was a great experience.”
Howells said he had been in Washington D.C. during an inauguration before but he had never attended a ceremony.
“I came to see Bush’s inauguration and raise a little hell,” he said.
“But this is the first one I actually attended and listened to. It was wonderful.”
Historic day
Lori Macklin, who served as an Obama delegate at the Democratic National Convention, said she was blessed to be part of such a historic day.
“I think for the first time it hit me that this was real,” Macklin said.
“I’m the coldest I think I’ve ever been, but it was just phenomenal.
“The energy was unbelievable, pure exuberance and pure joy.”
Macklin campaigned for Obama for almost two years and received a ticket to get up front.
“We got there at 8:30 a.m., and everyone was freezing but excited,” she said.
“When someone was on the big screen, they either went nuts or they booed.
“No one was afraid to show their emotions.”
Mark Saran, a local photographer, and his brother rode their bikes into the event. He said the roads were empty outside the area of the inauguration.
“There were so many people,” he said.
“We were by the National Monument and there were tons of people just having good time.”
Saran said it wasn’t the speeches, but the people, who most impressed him.
No barriers
“I don’t quite know how to say this but that barrier between black and white, today, it wasn’t there,” he said.
“Today there was eye-contact, and that is something you don’t always see.
“At least for today, it was a new era.”
The group of Jefferson County residents attending the inauguration made an attempt to take a photograph at 2 p.m. in front of the Smithsonian to send back to Port Townsend.
“Didn’t happen,” Howells said. “There were just to many people.”
But back in Port Townsend, no one seemed to be too concerned.
Inaugural ball
More than 200 people lined up at the door to dance the night away at the ball as Tim Halpin and The Better Half rocked out at the Jefferson County Fairground.
It was a celebration: Loud music, dancing, smiles, food and drinks.
Bob Schultz, who watched the inauguration with a small group of friends, admitted he had imbibed in some celebratory alcohol earlier in the day.
“We had a few mimosas,” Shultz said.
“It was like Christmas, and I was a boy who was getting something he really wanted.”
Schultz had small get-togethers with friends for the debates, the primary results and the general election.
Now that it’s over, he realizes that it’s really just beginning.
“This was a thrilling day,” he said, “But I’m determined to be sober and realistic that he’s not a savior and I need to answer his call to serve.”
Schultz likened Obama’s call to serve to John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do…” line.
“I was there when JFK was inaugurated,” Shultz said. “And certainly there are some comparisons.”
Schultz might not be in Washington, D.C., this time around, but he said he couldn’t be happier with the day.
“I tear up when I think about how intelligent he is, and how he understands the strengths of his people,” he said.
“It’s almost too good to be true.”
“I guess the thing is that the world has come a long way.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com
