Inauguration sparks community celebration

By Staff
Melissa Cason
Tuesday will be a historical day in our country as an African-American will be sworn in as our nation's 44th president.
"I never thought I'd see the day we'd have a black president when I was marching with Dr. King in Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery," Rev. Charles A. Dale said.
Dale said the event is historical, and that it makes him feel good about all the work done since the civil rights movement.
"I feel like shouting," Dale said. "I see it's the work of God. I see the hand of God. It makes me feel good about our poor patriarchs and the slaves and the songs they sang when they were together, because they couldn't even talk to each other."
Dale said God's plan is coming together with the inauguration of a black president.
Dale has left for Washington D.C. to see President-elect Barack Obama take his oath of office.
"A black man will stand on the steps of our capital and take the oath of office to be president of this United States of America, and I'll be there witnessing the event," Dale said.
Dale said he never thought this would happen in his lifetime, but he is grateful to be able to witness the historical event.
"I thought this would happen maybe in my grandchildren's lives, but not in my lifetime," he said. "Dr. King would be so proud."
While Dale is traveling to view the historical moment in person, others in Franklin County have made arrangements for a public viewing of the event Tuesday morning.
Don Willingham said everyone is invited to view the inauguration celebration of Obama at the Chucky Mullins Center at 9 a.m. Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m.
"We are happy to be able to come together and celebrate this historical event," Willingham said.
The celebration is sponsored by Back-to-Basics, Concerned Citizens and the Franklin Civic-Social Club, but Willingham said the event has many more supporters.
"We have so many supporters of this event, we can't list every one for fear we'd leave one out," Willingham said.