They wanted to be a part of history. That is the reason a number of Fayette County residents traveled to Washington, D.C., to witness the inauguration Tuesday of President Barack Obama. A half-dozen of those making the trip shared their thoughts before beginning the journey.

“It’s historic. It’s the day after the commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday,” said Fayetteville resident Del Burgess. “All that combined, it’s historic and even larger because of Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.”

Burgess said it was just coincidence that the two events are merged within a day of each other. Yet we as people, all people, have come together as a people and as a nation, Burgess said.

“Dr. King impacted my life by the way he carried himself, for me to be better than I am,” Burgess explained.

Also set to attend the inauguration was north Fayette resident and long-time NAACP member Sheila Louder.

“The election and inauguration is historic and memorable for me because I never thought I’d see this day come,” said Louder, an NAACP member for 20 years. Burgess also served as a volunteer at the Democratic National Convention.

Closer to the campaign than most, Louder said she was selected as an Obama Fellow by the President’s election campaign. Louder said the national committee chose 400 people in every region. Those selected were trained, completed assignments, held house parties and helped get people registered to vote, she said.

“It was plain that he was interested in starting with the grass-roots. I always saw business as usual with presidential candidates,” Burgess said. “It made me feel that this young man was different.”

NAACP Fayette Branch President Johnny Jones and his wife Alice are two of the local residents to make the trip to Washington. Taking time out before the MLK Celebration Saturday, Jones’ comment on the trip was brief but to the point.

“I just want to say that change is here and we welcome it,” he said.

For her part, Alice Jones said she was waiting to see what an energetic new president would bring to the new year.

“I’m going to the inauguration and I’m excited about it. And it’s exciting to see a new year and what’s going to happen in the future. We know we have an energized new president,” Alice said.

Past Fayette Branch President Phyllis Blake was also primed for the trip to Washington. Anticipating the historic occasion, the look on her face Saturday easily matched her words.

“I am extremely excited. I didn’t think I would ever see it in my lifetime. It is a true blessing and I’m looking forward to good things out of President-elect Obama,” Blake said.

Tyrone resident and state Rep. Virgil Fludd said he is looking forward to good things from the Obama administration. Speaking Saturday, Fludd said he was anticipating a governmental transition that would make it a partner, not a adversary, with citizens.

“I’m looking forward really to a change in tone and in relationship between government and the people. The relationship between government and its people has been adversarial for so long it’s going to be good to have government as a partner,” Fludd said. “So I’m looking forward to seeing that happen under the new administration.”

For her part, Louder reflected on a part of Obama’s message stated throughout the campaign. The words received a lot of attention, she said, but were often misunderstood.

“Obama was talking about change. He wasn’t talking about a change in Washington, he was talking about a change in your life,” Louder said. “He wants to make a difference in the life of every-day people.”