Let's see, after the holidays and Society Weddings corporate party planning, the next focus was going to Washington to witness history.
Ernest and I traveled by van with our puppy, Shadow, and stayed at my brother's home in Maryland (a perfect host) and the perfect distance to travel into Washington for this moment in history. This was base for the many activities that would follow during the 5 days that we were in the area for the Inauguration. Walter (my brother) was also kind enough to invite us to a pre-Inauguration Ball held in what I can only describe as one of Virginia's perfect venues for overlooking the skyline of Washington, DC. The view was absolutely spectacular during the evening's dinner and dancing; pretty much overwhelming to say the least. My other brother, Roy, also joined us as we rode by limousine (also arranged by Walter) to the venue. My sincere thanks to Walter for arranging this special occasion, as it was certainly the perfect kick-off to the events that followed.
On my way into the office, I read a letter on my pda from Congressman Eliot Engel who also attended the Inauguration. I cannot write in better terms what he has expressed in this letter, and so I am posting it here. I hope you will appreciate what I did, from his words. Congratulations, United States of America!
Dear Friends,
This February marks the 33rd time Black History Month has been honored, and this is perhaps the most notable one of all. It is the first one to occur while an African-American sits in the White House. During Black History Month, we commemorate the many contributions of African-Americans and remember not just heroes such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks, but also the extraordinary lives of ordinary people who have helped build our great nation. These are the shoulders that President Obama stands upon to show a new generation that no matter the odds, the American Dream can be achieved. I was there as our new President faced the millions of people that came to Washington from all over the country to witness his inauguration. I found it inspiring to see the promise and hope on their faces as they watched history made. It was truly a momentous day for America and a milestone in African-American history.There was once a time in America where a man born to a white woman from Kansas and an African man from Kenya would not have been allowed into the White House to visit, much less to serve as the leader of our nation. We as a nation should be proud that we have overcome many of the prejudices of the past and have entered into a new era of our nation’s history.
We have also entered into a complex era – one full of hope and promise that filters down from our new President, and one full of doubt and uncertainty as a result of our economic woes at home and various threats abroad. Men and woman of all races and nationalities are facing troubling financial times, and all families of soldiers bravely serving our nation in conflicts abroad count the days until their loved ones can be home safely. Despite all of the advancements achieved by African-Americans, there are still issues facing far too many people. Inner city students being educated in crumbling schools are continually fighting an uphill battle. Healthcare is inaccessible to far too many people. Even though America can elect an African-American as President, there are still employment inequalities in America. As America faces an economy in deep recession, we must come together as a nation to fight for equal rights and opportunities for all.
Black History Month is first and foremost a time to commemorate the achievements of Americans. So many Americans of African descent made extraordinary sacrifices in the name of justice and equality in the past which paved the way for Barack Obama to serve as our President. I will continue in the 111th to vote in the same way that earned me an “A” rating from the NAACP. We all care deeply about solving our dependence on foreign oil, providing health care for all Americans and putting our nation’s workers back to work.
We must all commit ourselves to work for an America where every person has the tools and opportunities to perhaps one day grow up and become President of the United States. So let us look at February – the month that marked the births of Rosa Parks and Abraham Lincoln – as a way that we can work together to solve our nation’s many problems and create an America where it is not a momentous moment when an African-American takes the Oath of Office. Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Dear Friends,This February marks the 33rd time Black History Month has been honored, and this is perhaps the most notable one of all. It is the first one to occur while an African-American sits in the White House. During Black History Month, we commemorate the many contributions of African-Americans and remember not just heroes such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks, but also the extraordinary lives of ordinary people who have helped build our great nation. These are the shoulders that President Obama stands upon to show a new generation that no matter the odds, the American Dream can be achieved. I was there as our new President faced the millions of people that came to Washington from all over the country to witness his inauguration. I found it inspiring to see the promise and hope on their faces as they watched history made. It was truly a momentous day for America and a milestone in African-American history.There was once a time in America where a man born to a white woman from Kansas and an African man from Kenya would not have been allowed into the White House to visit, much less to serve as the leader of our nation. We as a nation should be proud that we have overcome many of the prejudices of the past and have entered into a new era of our nation’s history.
We have also entered into a complex era – one full of hope and promise that filters down from our new President, and one full of doubt and uncertainty as a result of our economic woes at home and various threats abroad. Men and woman of all races and nationalities are facing troubling financial times, and all families of soldiers bravely serving our nation in conflicts abroad count the days until their loved ones can be home safely. Despite all of the advancements achieved by African-Americans, there are still issues facing far too many people. Inner city students being educated in crumbling schools are continually fighting an uphill battle. Healthcare is inaccessible to far too many people. Even though America can elect an African-American as President, there are still employment inequalities in America. As America faces an economy in deep recession, we must come together as a nation to fight for equal rights and opportunities for all.
Black History Month is first and foremost a time to commemorate the achievements of Americans. So many Americans of African descent made extraordinary sacrifices in the name of justice and equality in the past which paved the way for Barack Obama to serve as our President. I will continue in the 111th to vote in the same way that earned me an “A” rating from the NAACP. We all care deeply about solving our dependence on foreign oil, providing health care for all Americans and putting our nation’s workers back to work.
We must all commit ourselves to work for an America where every person has the tools and opportunities to perhaps one day grow up and become President of the United States. So let us look at February – the month that marked the births of Rosa Parks and Abraham Lincoln – as a way that we can work together to solve our nation’s many problems and create an America where it is not a momentous moment when an African-American takes the Oath of Office. Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
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