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.
Crowd of 500,000 with the Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument and United States' Capitol in background As of February 11, 2009, estimates of the crowd gathered at the Lincoln Memorial have gone from "tens of thousands" to "hundreds of thousands" to "400,000 +" and today it was announced there were over a half-million in attendence
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"Challenger" the American Bald Eagle * An American Bald Eagle named "Challenger" from the American Eagle Foundation and his handler on stage at the Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln memorial
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(Then) President-elect Barack Obama walking on stage President Barack Hussein Obama enters from stage right and waves to a throng of supporters half a million strong
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Owners' of cameras and cell phones come to quick attention when President-elect Obama walk on stage! A mass of people, thrilled to see President-elect Obama come on stage start clicking away with their cameras and cell phones
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Barack Obama
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Obama supporters of all races, colors, creeds and nationalities taking photos When the President speaks, fans take pictures, and lots of them be they through cell phones, digital SLR cameras, film cameras, video, audio ... anything to capture a moment of history.
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Barack Obama
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Obama supporters listening intently at Lincoln Memorial The crowd listens closely as President-elect Obama explains what it's going to take to get America back to its past glory
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"Whatever it takes to get that shot!" The Obama faithful went to great measures to capture his photo including standing on waste recepticals, fences, clibming trees, sitting on each others' shoulders: whatever it took in some instances
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Barack Obama
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Barack Obama Speaks to Crowd * President-elect Barack Obama speaks to the crowd gathered at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Jan. 18, 2009, during His Inaugural Celebration
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Adherents of newly elected President Obama applaude his speech Some of the half-million adorers of Obama shown applauding the newly-elected President's speech
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Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger perform "This Land Is Our Land"
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Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen and back-up guitarist Pete Seeger and Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen perform the anthemic "This Land Is Our Land"
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Obama supporters sing along The crowd gathered at the Lincoln Memorial sang along to 89 year old Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen's rendition of "This Land Is Our Land"
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