Peggy and James Troutt came to Washington, D.C., to witness the historic inauguration, but  spent the morning going in circles and being misdirected to the wrong entry points for their tickets.

Peggy Troutt said they were on a Metro subway line that was closed after an accident on the track. (The Associated Press reported that a woman fell onto the track and suffered injuries that are not life-threatening.) All the riders on that line were taken off and sent to the surface, where they were told there would be shuttles.

Instead, they were directed to walk. They  went a couple miles to a tunnel, and were told to go to the end of the tunnel for a gate to the entrance to the ceremony. When they got there, they were told they couldn't enter because it wasn't the purple area, where they had tickets.

Back through the tunnel, they found directions to the purple area, but when they got there, it was slow going to the gate.

"All of a sudden, they closed the gate," she said.

They arrived in time to hear Vice President Joe Biden take the oath of office. They could hear some of President Barack Obama's speech. They heard the cannons for the salute.

"People were angry. They were disappointed. They were crying," she said.

Some people had been in line, with children since 5:30 a.m. or 6:30 a.m., and didn't get in to their ticketed area.

"I was so disappointed. I had to remind myself what my pastor says all the time: 'This too shall pass.' But right now, it just brings tears to my eyes.

"I hear the program and everything inside was outstanding. My family and friends who stayed home and watched it on TV got a better view than we did."

What she heard of Obama's speech sounded wonderful, Peggy Troutt said. She and James plan to listen to the whole thing, together, on cable television at some point when they can relax and appreciate it.

 

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