THE INAUGURATION, FROM 2 VIEWPOINTS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, February 15, 1993                   TAG: 9302160326
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: WILL CECERE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
THE INAUGURATION, FROM 2 VIEWPOINTS
ON AN EARLY dark morning, my family and I traveled from Roanoke to Vienna, Va., and hopped on the Metro subway to Washington to see the inauguration of Bill Clinton. At the Federal Central Metro stop we became part of a huge crowd and heard a man playing "The Star Spangled Banner" on his flute.
After a walk with the crowd toward the Capitol, we showed our blue tickets to the police officer and went to a blue section called "Section 14 - West Standing." In that area we stood and waited for an hour.
The band played music. I saw the place in front of the Capitol decorated with different, long American flags. People were everywhere; there were about a million Americans. Some people were sitting in the stands near the podium where Mr. Clinton would become president. Helicopters circled in the sky and a blue balloon was stuck in a tree near us.
The master of ceremonies announced the important people, and Rev. Billy Graham prayed for our country. Al Gore took his oath to become vice president. When he said he'd do his best, the Supreme Court justice said, "I know you will!"
Opera singer Marilyn Horne sang some songs, like "Simple Gifts." The band played more music. Then Bill Clinton said his oath to become president with his hand on a Bible. The master of ceremonies said, "We now have a new president!" The crowd cheered wildly. I clapped and felt happy.
A famous poet named Maya Angelou read her poem which started with "A Rock, A River, A Tree . . ." After "The Star Spangled Banner" was played, everyone in the stands waved and cheered.
Then the crowd swarmed like mad bees in a honey tree to leave. And that was the inauguration of our 42nd president. About a half hour later, we waved goodbye to our former President Bush and Mrs. Bush when their helicopter circled in the clear blue sky.

Will Cecere, who lives in Roanoke, is 9.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB