We Are One : The Obama Inaugural Celebration
Broadcast live on an open signal from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., by HBO. "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" performance was a two-hour historical event organized with themes that shaped President Obama's campaign and will be the hallmarks of his administration. Being surrounded by an estimated half million people was well worth braving the cold, long security lines, and the hassles.
The list of musical performers featured: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, Bettye LaVette, Jon Bon Jovi, Mstr. Sgt. Caleb Green (U.S. Army), John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Pete Seeger, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, U2, Will.i.am and Stevie Wonder.
Among those that read historical passages were Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah, Denzel Washington, Jack Black, Steve Carell, Rosario Dawson, Tom Hanks, Laura Linney, Ashley Judd, Kal Penn, Forest Whitaker, Samuel L. Jackson and Tiger Woods. The Reverend V. Gene Robinson gave the invocation.
"The list of stars is impressive. But this is not a show biz, glitzy occasion. It's going to be rooted in history, remembering the great president (Lincoln) who led us through difficult times," - executive producer George Stevens Jr.
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Obama and Biden Families The Biden and Obama families sit down in the protected dignitary area.
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We Are One Crowd * People watched the concert from the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, along the Reflecting pool, to the base of the Lincoln Memorial.
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Color Guard at Lincoln Memorial * Military color guard stands on the steps at "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration
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Obama and Biden Families stand as The Star Spangled Banner is sung President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle Obama, their daughters Malia Obama and Sasha Obama, and Vice President-elect Joseph Biden and his wife Jill Biden
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Military Color Guard * The five flags represent segments of the United States' Armed Forces
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Master Sergeant Caleb Green (US Army) * Master Sergeant Caleb Green (US Army) sings The Star Spangled Banner in a deep baritone and is flanked by the Armed Forces Color Guard
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Obama loyalists pack the front of the Lincoln Memorial A monster crowd gathered at the Lincoln Memorial; here the United States Armed Forces Color Guard comes on stage
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Color Guard and the 50 state flags The United States' Armed Forces Color Guard along with other members of the military, each with a state flag representing each of America's 50
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Lincoln Memorial - West view * A crowd of a half-million strong gathered for the Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial: note massive frozen reflecting pool!
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Denzel Washington Pays homage to the leaders given Monuments and Memorials - Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson
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Denzel Washington speaks to the crowd "As Barack Obama has told us, we are not a collection of red states and blue states, we are the United States."
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Denzel Washington "This sacred site (Lincoln Memorial) is where generations have come to affirm the vitality of our democracy, and music has always been the creative heartbeat of the American experience ..."
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Historic Crowd This crowd, watching Denzel speak, is part of living history
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Denzel Washington "We gather here today, as Americans, among the Monuments that symbolize our history and our democracy, we stand upon the steps of the Memorial of the Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln ..."
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Bruce Springsteen with Gospel Choir * "The Rising" is Bruce Springsteen ode to the nation after the 9/11 attacks.
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