Anthony Atwood’s Inauguration Journal – Day 16

SATURDAY 17 – JAN09: Reveille. I hurry down to the subway to take the tube to the HQ. What a surprise – the subway is empty. Just deserted. Well, a four-day weekend has begun for the Washingtonians that will include the most important world event in history. They are sleeping in and making ready.

We are ready too, although operations are moving on autopilot. Those with early assignments are already underway. The train is coming. When you stop and think about it, it chokes you up. It has done that to me, and I have noticed others sometimes holding back tears, or even weeping quietly at the enormity of this. I think it is a universal feeling, and everyone wants help. Even my Brother Karl left Kansas and went to Miami at this time to look after our mother there, so that I would have a free hand for this mission.

The empty subway train sways back and forth. Don’t think for a moment anyone around here is oblivious.