Jamie and Ailie Ham attended the inauguration of President Barack Obama
at the invitation of Congressman
Paul Hodes (D-NH). Jamie is an artist, a Down Syndrome person, and a
member of the Lukas Community in Temple, New Hampshire. Abraham Lincoln
is one of his heroes. His paintings sell for hundreds of dollars. Jamie's
talent impressed Congressman Hodes who provided them with two tickets to
the inauguration. These stories have been submitted by their father Clifford
Ham.
Jamie's Story
(Following is my son James Ham's story about going to the Inauguration.
He dictated and responded to questions over the phone Saturday evening (1/24).
I organized it into a sequential entity and left out some bits that didn't
fit. The wording and thoughts are his. - Clifford Ham)
I am handicap person, together with artist. I live at Lukas: handicapped
people, everybody, live in Temple, New Hampshire. I am 38, will be 39. I
make all different kind arts. I'm like a baby, long time ago, always do
it. I take headlines and pictures, things people do, to help or hurt people,
old things or new things, and mix the words up. Now I do new things about
Barack Obama.
Way back too many people dead, lot more hurt, in that war; not help people.
Bush make me angry. Take people vote away. You cannot take my money, use
that weapon - Too many people pass away.
All my life, I want to go to Inauguration. This time my first. My sister
ask [Congressman] Hodes, him give us tickets. I do my own artwork, give
it to him, thanks. Hodes, him nice guy. I forgot to tell him.
[Inauguration Day], I don't want wake up. It was dark. I worry falling.
My sister pull me along. Sleepy, yawn. That line. Handicap this side, other
people right side. I say "watch your foot." Everybody is handicapped
and we were up front! Seat that front rows. Sit down, that cold. My sister
make friends. I said hi. I like music. I could see Obama. I am happy see
him. People call out "Obama, Obama." I try root him on. I could
see Obama's wife and children. I like their hair, flying in breeze. I liked
everything him saying. Make country better, like Lincoln. Fix this earth.
I will make another picture for Obama family. I will make more pictures,
help him. I am glad I went to Inauguration. I wish Peterboro come with me,
that front part. That was fun!
James Ham
Ailie's Story
Five in the morning is not my favorite time to rise, but today that was
not relevant. Through Divine intervention and assistance, I held two tickets
to the swearing in of our first president of color. I had asked my Down
Syndrome brother's congressman if they had any tickets they could spare.
Completely forgotten about, I was shocked when the congressman's aide called
and told me he had good news. We were Going! So the day arrived when I was
to pick up the tickets. Ten AM to three PM was the allotted time. When I
got there the line was six blocks long. Somehow we got inside. Jamie had
made a piece of art to give to the congressman for his gracious gift, so
we took it along. We wound our way around the Cannon Office Building and
then through a basement corridor to find our way to the Longworth Building.
Up we went. We walked in and the staff knew who we were. They greeted Jamie
with an open hand ... and then told us we could go meet the Congressman.
I walked in and extended my appreciation: "Thank you so much for the
opportunity." He responded: Yes, our first African-American president.
Amazing." Jamie saw a picture of Lincoln on the wall and exclaimed:
"It's Him; the man who can do something!" Congressman Hodes loved
the artwork and gave us the warmest welcome. And we were just beyond happy
to have the golden tickets in our hands.
January 20th, 2009. We got up before anyone with sense would and headed
off in the dark to find our spot in line. We ran for ten blocks with a group
of about 200 people; up one street and down another at the instruction of
the police. You could barely see anything yet-and the city's energy was
already beyond vibrant. We finally found our way to the end of the line.
It was six AM and twenty degrees, and about 400 people were in front of
us! We had foot warmers in our shoes, three layers of clothing on, and much
joy, joy, joy in our hearts to keep us warm. It was finally happening and
we were going to see it. Two hours later, after making friends with people
in line, swapping stories, and sharing the love of the day, the gates opened.
We made our way to the security check point and then we ran again only to
be bottlenecked by a small gate and about 100 people. Then we were in ...
we ran again. There it was, we found our spot. PAUSE. We had no idea that
we would have a place so close: about 100 feet from the podium! I wept.
I could do nothing else. I hugged the woman in front of me and she exclaimed
how grateful she was. We just kept expressing how blessed we were ... She
with her aging mother and me with my Down Syndrome brother ... There was
a soldier behind us in a wheelchair with a missing limb and a purple heart.
There was a paraplegic teenager to my right beaming with glee. Two rows
in front of us was an elderly woman from West Virginia with her disabled
son. Five rows behind me was Forest Whitaker. Five feet to my left was Jesse
Jackson. Oprah Winfrey passed ten feet behind me. WE were all intermingled.
WE WERE ALL ONE! I stood up slowly and looked behind me. A sea of people
farther than I could ever imagine covered the Mall. More than I have seen
in any picture of the Mall, ever. More than I have ever witnessed, anywhere.
I cried again. Love was tangible at that moment ... radiant ... you could
taste it. Even the Secret Service officers were smiling.
Prayers were made. Songs were sung. The music grew and grew and grew. Every
few minutes you could hear a wave of "Obama! Obama!" coming from
the Mall and it would sweep up to the presidential podium. And, of course,
everyone in the handicapped section would sound off also. Then the moment
finally came: Obama and his family came out after many announcements. Michelle,
holding President Lincoln's Bible in her hand, looked out over the sea of
supporters while her partner in life took office. The overflowing mall erupted
in thunderous conclusion. And as he spoke ... he gave reference to the fact
that not so long ago, a person of color could not even eat in the same restaurant
as a white person. Not in this very town. And now we have a person of color
leading our country. He also spoke to the most important part: WE MADE IT
HAPPEN! Change has Come to America.
Ailie Ham