WASHINGTON, D.C. –Amidst the 3 am crowds, cold weather, and confusion, hundreds of thousands, and possibly even millions of people, crowded the already packed streets of D.C. to watch history redefine itself at the nations Capitol.     Despite some slight confusion in he early hours, over 1 million people lined every inch of The National Mall, stretching as far back from the capitol as the Lincoln Memorial. So many people turned out for the event that even a few ticket holders ended up near the back. Chris McLeod, junior International Studies major at North Carolina State University, was just one of the many people that braved the crowds to catch a glimpse at the nations first African American President.    “It was just so cold,” McLeod said with a smile on his face. “My friend and I got up at like 3:30am and drove to the bus, then took the bus to the metro, and rode the metro all the way down. We made good time, but when we got to the Capitol it was about 4:30am and some of the entrances were already closed due to the crowds inside overwhelming the checkpoints.”    After hours of long lines and hungry crowds, McLeod was able to partake in the moment, along with so many other people. For the 18 minutes of President Obama’s speech, the Mall stood still as vendors stopped selling “official” Inauguration memorabilia, cell phones ceased to ring, and the 24-degree weather didn’t seem quite as cold as Obama’s voice boomed over the speakers and television screens.”We are in the midst of a crisis. … Our nation is at war. … Our economy is badly weakened. … Our health care is too costly. … Our schools fail too many. … The ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet,” Obama said. “The challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America, they will be met.”Keeping to a packed schedule, the Obama’s left to attend a luncheon, and then prepare for the Inaugural parade. Not even 24 hours into his term, and Obama was greeted by an unforeseeable event: Senator Ted Kennedy had a seizure at the luncheon, sobering the moment of exhilaration.”I would be lying to you if I did not say that right now, a part of me is with him,” Obama said. “And I think that’s true for all of us. This is a joyous time. But it’s also a sobering time. And my prayers are with him and his family and Vicki.”Despite the setback, Obama carried on and even walked several blocks of the parade, against the wishes of the Secret Service. As the parade came to a close, and the Obama’s began to prepare for the inauguration, D.C. remained abuzz with the excitement of the historic occasion. Now that the parties have ended, Obama’s must begin the real work: fixing a nation in disarray.

• Dexter Mullins