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The historic inauguration of President Barack Obama last Tuesday ushered in a new chapter for the next generation of Americans. At St. Casmir's School in Albany, this was most evident.

For a school of predominately African-American students, the day meant more than just the swearing in of the 44th President of the United States; it brought a sense of pride, relief and hope to the children.

"Today is a wonderful day because Barack Obama is the first African-American President," said third-grader Ayshari Blades.

Ayshari and her classmates, along with first- and fourth-graders, gathered at lunch tables to watch the inauguration celebration on a large screen.

The ceremony gave first-grader Marquis Everett an idea: "Now I can run for President when I turn old enough!"

Building blocks
Marquis was not the only student who found inspiration in the ceremony. "This inspires me because of knowing what my mother and my grandmother had to go through," said Amari Morris, a third-grader.

Other students at St Casmir's acknowledged the role African-American heroes of the past played that led up to the 2008 election.

"My mom said if it wasn't for Dr. [Martin Luther] King, Barack Obama would never have been elected," said a fellow third-grader. "This is a special holiday for us."
The rest of the children at the table nodded, and Terrell Williams added "today is special because Martin Luther King changed everything."

No worries
Many students believed that their older relatives had had a burden lifted when Obama became the new U.S. president.

"Now that Mr. Obama is president, we have no more stress," asserted Tianna Vorvolakos. "My family doesn't have to worry about me any more and they don't have to worry about themselves."

Fourth-grader Kenneth Love also felt that the new president signaled in a brighter future for him and his family.

"Today is just the first day," he said. "We don't have to have a struggle any more."
As the children ate lunch, they watched intently, cheering along with the crowd in Washington, D.C. At the end of a prayer said for President Obama, all the students broke out a resounding "Amen!"

One small voice added, "God bless the President and the USA!"[[In-content Ad]]

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