I traveled to DC to witness this Historical moment. I did so for my grandmother and her grandmother and all that came before, in-between, and following them. I was in DC amongst close to 5 million people, who were motivated and inspired by the feelings of togetherness and accomplishment. People where walking around with the heads high, shoulders back, and chests out; with pride.

I recall riding on the Metro with Mr. Miles Hilton Chambers, who traveled from England to witness this historical event. When I asked him, following his interview of me, why did he travel such distance for this inauguration? His response was "Brother, this is not just and uplift for Americans, this is for the World..." He continued on by quoting Dr. Martin Luther Kings famous "I have a dream" speech. His rendition of this speech is the best that I've heard thus far.

On that same train with me, was Mr. E.L. Everett, a 74 year-old black man from Chicago, Illinois, who happened to be the "good friend of Senator Buress (President senate Obama's replacement). I witness Mr. Everett take a call from a Congress friend of his from Illinois, who had invited him to the inauguration. In Mr. Everett's interview with Mr. Chambers, he spoke of his experience of visiting the South and going to jail for asking why did he have to drink from a certain water fountain. Mr. Everett was very well dressed and had on some very nice smelling cologne, as though he was going to his high school prom all over again. He was very Proud and appreciative.

As a young Airman in the Air Force, I had the chance to spend some time with Mother Rosa Parks on her 80th Birthday.

Growing up in the South (North Carolina) and being raised by a grandmother (family tradition as she raised all the males), who delivered me at birth, and seeing the pain that discrimination could cause to a Strong black man (my dad), and my growing up and being selected to the positions that I now hold as the Human Resource Advisor for a military organization as well as an instructor and mentor to at-risk youth, following acheiving several local and national awards for my involvement in the community and my public stance against hate, to include the NAACP Roy Wilkins Jr. Renown Service Award, I had to make this trip. It was indeed one of my most memorable experiences thus far.

"Good is the Enemy of Great"

"Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the reasons that we have so
little that becomes great. We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have great government, principally
because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, precisely
because it is easy to settle for a good life. The vast majority of companies never become great precisely because they become quite good. -and that is their main problem." Jim Collins

With this said, in my very humble opinion:

a. Obama is a very unique person. He is the essence of Greatness. Dr. King,
Mother Rosa, Malcom, President Kennedy, and Brother Chavez, to name a few
of many, would be shedding tears of Joy today. His grandmother would be
very proud. This is a true testiment that their work(s) were not in vein.
Today is a Great day for the United States of America, a Great day for the
World. United we shall stand. Divided we will fall. God Bless America....

V/R,

Chris Underwood
"A Diversity Champion"