Day 1 Inauguration Week – Concert at Lincoln Memorial

January 26th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 11 Comments

Sunday, January 18, Washington, DC.

The biggest free concert ever held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial was taking place that afternoon, a historic nod to Martin Luther King, Jr. as we embraced Barack Obama as our next president, in the marble presence of Abraham Lincoln looking at all of us from above.

And I mean the hundreds of thousands of us. From my standpoint, only a couple hundred feet from the makeshift stage on the very steps where Dr. King gave his famous speech, I could turn around and see the multitudes lining both sides of the rectangular reflecting pond that spans the distance between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, along the National Mall where 2 days later nearly 2 million would gather.

Today’s event was a tribute to Lincoln, King and Obama, by some of music’s biggest names and celebrities of all stripes. Scheduled to start at 2:30 PM, and broadcast free to televisions all over the world, many people braved the cold from as early as 7 AM to get a good glimpse of Bruce Springsteen or Beyonce or James Taylor or Queen Latifah, or any number of advertised famous people paying tribute that afternoon.

The hours of humanity huddled together to stay warm created new friendships. I ended up at first near some early Obama supporters from Chicago, whose kids went to the same school as the Obamas. “How was he as a normal guy?” I asked. They replied that he was wonderful, if you got him to laugh. Otherwise, he was always serious, thoughtful, focused and bright. But they spent much more time as school parents with Michelle, who they felt was a genuinely great person. These people had encouraged Barack to run for President when he was still a state senator in Illinois, and had made hotel reservations for this week almost 2 years ago, knowing he would win!

Later, I sat next to a friendly couple from Dallas. They, like so many who came, felt the hopefulness that a new era has arrived, where we could begin working together to build a sense of community all across the nation.

Indeed, that was the feeling in this huge crowd. I kept looking up at Abe Lincoln, wondering what he would have thought about this event, this time. I think he would have been greatly pleased, that his Herculean efforts to hold this country together had been worthwhile. Every 5 minutes or so a jet would take of from nearby Reagan National Airport, and fly right over the Lincoln Memorial, with its pillars all around the building and the names of each state inscribed across the top.

Finally it begins, and they introduce the Vice President-elect, Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, who walk out and take a special seat next to the stage. Then, unbelievably, Barack and Michelle Obama come out. Can’t be, because security isn’t really tight enough, not like it will be on Tuesday with the airspace shut down and the perimeter carefully controlled. But he wanted to be there with his family to share this historic event. The crowd goes absolutely wild!

Springsteen starts with The Rising, backed by a huge chorus. Everyone gets to their feet. Then Denzel Washington draws the significance of this event on these steps. The people, many of whom are African-American, are beginning to cry as we realize that our few hours of discomfort were a joke in light of the struggle of this nation, and especially that of black Americans who have fought for equality and justice.

All the performers and speakers were genuinely moved and humbled to be there. Jamie Foxx did a great impersonation of Obama’s Chicago acceptance speech. From Tom Hanks to Forrest Whitaker, the palpable feeling of hope, triumph and unity was obvious. Everyone had their favorite moments. Stevie Wonder performing Higher Ground with Usher and Shakira was huge. Garth Brooks singing, “Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie.” Jon Bon Jovi doing a stirring duet with an older black woman who I didn’t know. U2, one of my favorite bands, played their Martin Luther King tribute song, Pride in the Name of Love. Bono remarked how incredible it was for 4 lads from northern Dublin to be here honoring a man like Barack Obama. My favorite performance was John Mellencamp’s Pink Houses, with the refrain, “Ain’t that America, you and me,” whipping the enormous crowd into a unified field of energy and love.

When Barack took to the stage at the end to mark the occasion, we all knew that a threshold had been crossed. We were never going back. A bond had been established among all of us, setting the stage for the next 2 days and the next 4 years, and maybe the next 2 centuries. The feeling was not only, “Yes, we can” but, “Yes, we must.” And, as Audrey likes to say, using the best of arts and science, business, politics and humanitarian efforts, we begin the real work of our time.

Yours,

Rick Levine

PNE staff member