Obama inauguration celebrations spread far and wide

Exhilaration reigned over most of the country Tuesday as the United States prepared to inaugurate its first African-American president.

Black and white Americans celebrated along with other minorities as the promise of a new era of ethnic inclusiveness dawned with the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States.

"The biggest thing that I look forward to, that I anticipate from this, is unity throughout the country, racially and politically," Fred Jemison of Birmingham, Alabama, told CNN affiliate WBMA. Jemison was helping set up Birmingham's Boutwell Auditorium for the city's inauguration celebration.

Clint Cantwell left work to join a "pretty festive" crowd on New York's Times Square to watch the inauguration unfold on giant outdoor screens.

"It's a brand new day for the country," he said. "I think it's a momentous occasion and I'm looking forward to the next four years."

Public inauguration-viewing parties were planned in the Los Angeles, California, area, according to CNN affiliate KCAL. The largest would be at the Staples Center, the 20,000-seat arena where the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers play.

A viewing party also was planned at McCormick Café in Billings, Montana, where the forecast high temperature of 56 degrees was expected to be at least 20 degrees higher than on the National Mall in Washington.

"American history will be made in Washington, D.C., today, while weather history might be made in Billings," said Marc Moraniec of CNN affiliate KTVQ.

Cold and snowy weather found its way to Rock Hill, South Carolina, where iReporter Cali Sandel, a Winthrop University student, built a snowman holding a sign reading "Yes We Can."

Sandel said she will watch the historic inauguration on television from her home, "waiting to see what he (Obama) can do."

In Raleigh, North Carolina, iReporter Sam Shaber watched the events with his parents at their house.

"We are all snowed in and have a bottle of champagne ready," he said. "I am gay, and to have just any minority be elected is such a milestone in so many ways."

The family put an American flag outside the house this morning in honor of the ceremony.

"Even though the snow is falling, people all up and down the street have our American flags out," he said.

Andrea Zucker of Northampton, Massachusetts, thought it was important to share the moment with the next generation.

"I'm going to watch (the inauguration) with my students," she told CNN affiliate WGGB. "I work in a middle school in Springfield, and I'm very excited about it. I feel it's one of the most important days we've had in a long, long time."

Betsy Crowell of Syracuse, New York, boarded a bus for Washington on Monday night to see Obama become president.

"He's not just the president for one group or this group or that," she told CNN affiliate WTVH. "He's for all of the people, and I think that we will prosper from this presidency."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/obama.reaction/