w I myself feel called toward civic duty more so than ever before. I am excited to be in a position of service at this time in our nation's history, to be in a position where I can teach values of patriotism, passion, loyalty and diligence. —Sam Routhier, faculty
ward the Lincoln Memorial to watch from that historic spot. For the most part, we watched on the JumboTrons scattered around the Mall. But more important than what was happening on the screens above was what was happening on the ground around us. The purpose of the trip was less to witness the historical inauguration than to witness the crowd that witnessed history. There was the undeniable, almost unbelieving pride of the African-Americans who alternated between weeping, shaking their heads in disbelief and embracing whomever they could. There were the young people, of all races and backgrounds, whose smiles seemed as bright as the day itself: a generation of youth who were inspired to rise out of themselves by a most unlikely leader. There were the soldiers and police officers who stopped watching the crowd and turned to the monitors to watch history. And there was, in the cold and the wind, a clarity to the light, a vividness that made everything seem both more real and more dreamlike. As a Good Morning America correspondent who interviewed several Taft students noted, it felt like a music festival. But that was the surface. There was the joy and common purpose found in any large group, but there was also an awareness in everyone we met that this was different. This was a pivotal moment in history. In the end it worked because of the students. They were magnificent. They embraced their responsibilities to each other, to the moment and to our expectations of them. They were resilient in the face of no sleep and cold weather. They made us proud of them as their teachers and, yes, their countrymen.
m Middlers Molly Lucas, Lillie Belle Viebranz and Grace Kalnins stake out high ground at the Washington Monument.
America, in the face of our common dangers,
in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations. Author Greg Hawes ’85 teaches history at Taft. All photos were taken by faculty and students. For more photos, visit www.TaftSchool.org. b Mission Accomplished: Dean of Faculty Chris Torino and history-teaching couple Rachael Ryan (who spearheaded the trip) and Greg Hawes ’85 successfullly account for all 220 students back at the Metro station after the ceremony.
w The inauguration trip was the coolest and most powerful thing that I have done at Taft. Despite the all-night bus ride, the cold weather, and the huge crowds, I didn't hear anyone complain once. The enthusiasm from everyone involved made me proud to be a Taft student. —Paul Kiernan Taft Bulletin Winter 2009 ’09 19