Vermonters Celebrate Obama’s Inauguration in D.C.

 

More than 1.2 million people gathered in the National Mall to watch President Barack Obama’s swearing-in on Jan. 21. Before the official celebrations began, though, the numerous Vermonters in Washington, D.C. decided to kickstart the festival in Vermont style.

On the night before the official swearing-in, the Vermont State Society in Washington, D.C. organized an Inaugural Reception at Constitution Avenue.

The event was an opportunity for the many Vermonters who were involved in Obama’s re-election campaign to celebrate their shared political victory — and their shared roots.

Vermont families, young professionals and businessmen arrived in their cocktail attire. After getting the Vermont wristband and their raffle tickets, guests proceeded downstairs to dine on Vermont delights – plates of cheese, salad, turkey and more.

While chatting with one another at tall tables, they also enjoyed Burlington-musician Lowell Thompson’s performance.

In the hours before the reception, excitement for the event mounted. Two days before the event, the Vermont State Society had tweeted thanks to the many different sponsors for their donations — most of whom responded with enthusiastic praise for both the Vermonters who worked on Obama’s behalf and also for the state itself.

A number of generous Vermonters made the evening’s festivities possible. Narric Rome and Julia Frost, president and vice-president of the Vermont State Society communicated with different vendors, supplying hundreds of guests with Vermont delicacies. In total, twenty-eight Vermont companies — including big corporations like Ben & Jerry’s and Cabot Cheese — generously shipped boxes and cases of wines, cheeses and meatballs to recreate the Vermont sentiment.

The many Vermont products brought the event just a little bit closer to home – bottles of Vermont-shaped maple syrup and apples from Champlain Orchards were given out as souvenirs.

Around 9:30 p.m., Governor of Vermont Peter Shumlin entered the venue. As he descended the stairs, all guests turned around, hoping to shake hands and greet him in person. During his speech, he encouraged all Vermonters to work together to “keep up the good work.”

Shumlin’s address reflected the enthusiasm and passion of the crowd to which he spoke.

“Vermont is the most progressive state in the United States,” said Shumlin. “We made all this happen because no matter if we are Democrats or Republicans, we listen to each other and we all care about Vermont.”

Shumlin ended the brief speech on a high note by outlining a bright future for both Vermont and America.

“We will make sure that Vermont continues to set a model for other states. Our healthcare plan is more advanced than the rest of the country and we will improve our education and immigration laws. We will show other states how democracy works!”

Shumlin lauded Vermonters for their ability to work toward bipartisan goals. He also praised the willingness of Vermonters to work together at the grassroots level to engender political change. Vermonters will continue to work toward the betterment of American society at all levels of government.

The next honorable guest, senator Patrick Leahy (D) — who was just promoted to the Senate’s president pro tempore, third in line to the presidency — shared a similar pride for Vermont.

“[As] I reminded then-President-elect Obama, I said the first state in the union to come in for you, ahead of your own state of Illinois, was Vermont,” Leahy said, following by raucous applause and cheers from the crowd.

Leahy made his dedication to his job clear over the course of his speech.

“I have to tell you a secret,” Leahy joked. “I actually enjoy being the most senior member of the Senate.”

Leahy currently chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee that is tasked with many of the hottest debates in the country, including gun control and immigration law.

After senator Leahy’s departure,  senator Sanders and representative Peter Welch arrived later in the night. They both praised members of Vermont communities for their commitment to democracy.

When the night finally came to an end, guests took the elevator up to the roof terrace, enjoying the breathtaking night view of the Capitol, where Obama would take the oath of office in public.

Baldwin — a current student at American University in Washington, D.C. — shows that Vermonters are continuing to make an impact in American government. At the reception, he said that although he loves his adopted home in D.C., he felt that “[he] belong[s] to Vermont. ”

“I feel very honored to take part in the reception,” said Baldwin. Events like this always remind me of how special Vermont is. Although I study in D.C., I will definitely settle down in Vermont in the future.”