Obama and the Inaugural Ball

Photo By Master Sgt. Opal Vaughn | Vice President Joe Biden dances with U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Keesha Dentino of Homestead, Fla., while Second Lady Jill Biden, dances with U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Figueroa of Fort Worth, Texas, during the Commander-in-Chief Inaugural Ball held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, Jan. 21, 2013. Military involvement in the presidential inauguration dates back to April 30, 1789, when members of the U.S. Army, local militia units and revolutionary war veterans escorted George Washington to his first inauguration ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Opal Vaughn/Released)  

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

01.21.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Opal Vaughn  

27th Public Affairs Detachment

WASHINGTON - I am an Army photojournalist. My day-to-day mission is to tell the soldier’s story by educating service members and their families, as well as those who know nothing about the military. I have the extraordinary privilege of serving alongside the men and women in uniform while acting as their voice.

For now, my current mission takes me to Washington. I’ve already gotten into several quarrels over prime “real estate” and elbowed a few civilian reporters in a matter of minutes. Reuters and the Associated Press (AP) are by my side. A metal rail behind me, a reporter resting his camera over my head as he stands on a chair above me, an anxious crowd in front of me, along with a slew of cameras rolling live for television.

I’m literally boxed in. With my uniform freshly pressed and jump boots buffed to a mirror shine, I feel ready to conquer the world. Camera in hand, I check my lighting for the millionth time; my nerves still intact. The lights dim and the crowd's roar dulls to a low scuffle of phones being pulled out and opened to camera mode.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer begins.

I’m on edge. I take a deep breath and close my eyes one last time to refocus. It’s the biggest night of my military career. I’m at the Commander-in-Chief’s Ball for the 57th Presidential Inauguration, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, Jan. 21, 2013.

When I joined the Army, I never imagined that one day I would be attending an inaugural ball of honored guests, let alone, watching the president and first lady dance the first dance.

My day had started in the early morning hours at “oh-dark thirty” walking several blocks to 4th Street and Independence from Fort Lesley J. McNair, in Arlington, Va. My mission was to document the float assembly area. The temperature was supposed to be a high of 47 degrees but it felt more like 30.

So by the time I got through the fourth security checkpoint to enter the inaugural ball that evening, I was running on empty. But I was too elated to show it.

It sounds so cliché, but being a part of history, is the greatest feeling and it is something only God could make happen. Beyond jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, attending the ball was a very humbling experience.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer repeated as the crowd of service members went wild with applause. It seemed as though everything muted with only the sound of cameras snapping away. The room is dark except for the stage lighting and the hundreds of cell phones posted up and taking pictures.

“Please stand for the 44th President of the United States, President Barack Obama.”

• Date Taken: 01.21.2013
• Date Posted: 02.05.2013 08:08
• Story ID: 101476
• Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US