CRESTVIEW — A three-day trip to Washington, D.C., for President Barack Obama’s inauguration has convinced a Bob Sikes Elementary School student that she wants to see more.
For Justice Livingston, a 10-year-old fourth-grader, attending the inauguration to cap off a weekend of sightseeing fulfilled a long-time dream.
Justice received an envelope Christmas Eve full of materials from the White House, including a letter from the president, following a letter she wrote to Obama in November.
She also wrote Obama four years ago after his first inauguration.
Last weekend, Justice’s older cousins Libby Lewis-Reeves, Tawanah Reeves and Master Sgt. Tonya Lewis — Crestview natives living in other cities — treated her to a weekend in the capital, where she could be closer than ever to her role model.
However, the National Mall and the inaugural parade route were so crowded that Justice and her cousins couldn’t see what was happening.
“We couldn’t see him (Obama) but we could hear him, and we heard Beyoncé sing,” she said
The energetic crowd on hand particularly interested Justice as she and her cousins approached the U.S. Capitol.
“The rush of getting there and everybody pushing was exciting,” she said. “But the closer we got, everybody got happier. They (security forces) moved people into, like, little blocks. One big guy and his daughter came bouncing everybody out of their way. We just laughed at them.”
Pat Mosely, Justice’s grandmother, said the “little blocks” were roped-off stalls containing a certain number of spectators. Officials could count the stalls to get an estimate of the crowd.
Justice also climbed the Washington Monument. The iconic landmark was impressive even before she set foot in it, she said.
“It was wonderful just walking up to it,” Justice said. “The view was, actually, wow!”
She and her cousins also visited the National Museum of African Art and took photos in front of government departments, including the Department of the Treasury.
“It was tiring with all the walking,” Justice said. “It was good to sit sometimes, but it was fun!”
Justice is ready for a return visit. She and her grandparents who she lives with are planning a spring road trip to the capital, and she hopes to return with her cousins.
“In two or three months, we should be going back,” she said.
She’s also writing another letter to Obama.
“She wants to write to him and tell them she wants to meet all of them (the first family) in the White House,” Mosely said.
“Hopefully, we’ll get a tour of the White House. Maybe then I’ll get to meet President Obama,” Justice said.
Crestview News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes can be reached at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.