Robinson experiences history • He and his son up close for Obama’s swearing-in ceremony


Thursday, January 29, 2009
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Robinson experiences history
• He and his son up close for Obama’s swearing-in ceremony

By BARRY BURLESON
Editor

Photo by Barry Burleson

Memorabilia
Larry Robinson shows off a souvenir edition of USA Today which he purchased following the inauguration.

Like many others, Larry Robinson and his 10-year-old son Nicholas cried January 20 outside the nation’s capitol.

“Sitting there, when President Obama took the oath, it brought tears to my eyes,” said Robinson, a Byhalia resident. “My thoughts went to my family – my dad and mom.

“I never thought I’d see a black president in my lifetime. It was a special moment.

“My son was crying, too. He said he thought about his grandmother, who passed away July of last year.”

Robinson, assistant manager at Piggly Wiggly in Holly Springs, was one of Barack Obama’s campaign coordinators out of the Memphis, Tenn., office.

He knew 10 people from that headquarters were going to receive a trip and tickets to the inauguration.

“But I didn’t know I would be one of them,” he said. “Of course, I was very excited when I found out. I was blessed.”

He and his son, who is a student at Byhalia Elementary and Middle School, left via plane Sunday, Jan. 18, and returned Wednesday, Jan. 21. They attended a pre-inaugural musical event Sunday featuring lots of stars and Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities Monday.

But the main event was the swearing-in ceremony Tuesday. He said they awoke early and got there early.

“My reason for being there was that Tuesday,” said Robinson, 54. “Most of all, I wanted to be there when he took that oath.

“We had a spot close enough to see the president. It was a good view. It was very, very cold, but worth it.

“I’ve met President Clinton before and shook his hand, but I never thought I’d get to experience something like that.”

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