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| Image © 2009, Crystal Chatham, The Desert Sun || 01/20/2009 -- R. Gene Wilson (right), 75, and Virginia Rowe (left), 72, both of Indio, sit in the Indio home of friends Martha and Gene Hartwell and watch television as President Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. "It's the greatest day for America," Wilson said after the speech. "What he is talking about is unity. That's the only way we're going to make it is together." |
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| || General Information: |
|| Portfolio: |
Crystal Chatham: Photojournalist: The Desert Sun
| Address: |
78365 Highway 111, #124, La Quinta, CA 92253, USA |
| Phone: |
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| Crystal Chatham's Message: |
I spent Inauguration Day with an area family who celebrated President Barack Obama with an open house celebration for friends and family. Here is the story I wrote to accompany the attached photos:
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Martha Hartwell sang along as Ray Charles' "America the Beautiful" played on her home stereo speakers Tuesday. Across the room President Barack Obama was shown on television escorting Former President George W. Bush to Executive 1.
Hartwell, 64, and husband Gene, 72, opened the doors of their Indio home to friends and fellow members of the 2nd Baptist Church throughout inauguration day.
"I never thought I'd see this in my life," Gene Hartwell said after the swearing in ceremony.
The couple woke at 4 a.m., turned the television on, and prepared food for the stream of people who stopped by their home for the 8:30 a.m. broadcast of the inaugural ceremony. Another round of guests appeared in time for the afternoon broadcast of the President's inaugural parade. The Hartwells expected another group of their working friends to stop by after work to watch television and celebrate Obama's presidency.
Virginia Rowe, 72, of Indio, sat on the couch in the Hartwell home and raised her right hand to pray as Pastor Rick Warren offered the ceremony's invocation. "God did this," she said while looking at the television screen. "Thank the Lord." Moments later, Rowe raised her hand again and repeated every word as Vice President Joseph Biden took his oath of office.
"Look at all those people. That's beautiful," host Gene Hartwell said as the television broadcast a wide view down the National Mall. "Now, if we can all just stay this way."
Hartwell rose from his chair and turned up the background music playing in the adjacent family kitchen. Across the room wafted the sounds of Ray Charles belting out a patriotic tune.
As Hartwell's wife began to sing along, the US Air Force veteran offered a hopeful challenge to his new Commander-in-Chief.
"I hope he can get people back to work and put trust back in the U.S.," Hartwell said. "He is so cool and collected. He can do it."
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| Last Update: |
292 days ago |
| Member Since: |
11.21.2008 (Senior Member) |
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|| Contact Crystal Chatham:
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The images below are from the
portfolio of Crystal Chatham. They are presented here for your viewing pleasure. These images may not be used elsewhere and are protected by copyright. To see these images, click on the icon and you will see a much larger image.
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"Inauguration Day"
01/20/2009 -- R. Gene Wilson (right), 75, and Virginia Rowe (left), 72, both of Indio, sit in the In... |
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"Inauguration Day"
Indio resident Martha Hartwell, 64, bows her head in prayer as the inaugural invocation is televised... |
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"Inauguration Day"
A copy of the January 2009 issue of Ebony magazine rests on a coffee table in the Indio home of Mart... |
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"Inauguration Day"
R. Gene Wilson, of Indio, wears a t-shirt featuring Barack Obama as she sits in the Indio home of fr... |
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"Inauguration Day"
Indio residents Virginia Rowe (left), 72, and Victoria Turner (center), 53, cheer with Betty Bernard... |
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"Inauguration Day"
Indio resident Kelly Walton-Hilton holds her daughter, Aaliyah Bandych, 2, and claps while watching ... |
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"Inauguration Day"
Gene Hartwell, 72, of Indio watches television as President Barack Obama gets out of his limousine a... |
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"Inauguration Day"
Hosts Martha and Gene Hartwell laugh as a guest makes a joke while the couple and friends sit in the... |
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