Opinion: Scenes from the Lincoln Memorial

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WASHINGTON -- It’s a remarkably mellow scene at the Lincoln Memorial, the spot on the National Mall that, at two miles from the Capitol steps, is farthest from the inauguration site. It is also the most elevated, affording a long view toward the swearing-in. There’s only one problem, contrary to news reports and diagrams released by the Presidential Inaugural Committee: There are no JumboTron screens, only large speakers lining the reflecting pool.

‘We planned to come and sit here,’ said David Levine, 51, a stock trader from Potomac, Md. ‘They said there would be giant TVs, so we were a little surprised.’

‘Upset!!’ interjected his 13-year-old son, Jeremy Levine.

‘But I mean look at this !’ added Levine. ‘This is gorgeous. We’ll just have to sit here and listen to it.’

Nearby, Nandita Jain, was exultant. Born in India and raised in England, the 48-year-old environmental consultant became an American citizen in October and had just purchased her first American flag -- a tiny banner on a little stick to wear during the ceremony.

Jain said she is not used to waving anyone’s flag.

‘It definitely feels odd,’ she said. ‘It’s a weird feeling to wave the flag of any country, but I am really hopeful.’

Her companion, Bob Davis, 54, who works for a nonprofit, inadvertently repeated something that incoming first lady Michelle Obama said on the campaign trail that landed her in hot water: ‘I really feel proud of my country for the first time.’

‘I was brought up in the ‘60s when there were so many protests and we were against so much,’ he said. ‘But everyone is so positive and it is so fun to be here on a day like today.’

-- Robin Abcarian