The following are some of the thoughts and feelings of two UAW Women who shared a journey to Washington D.C. They took part in the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama

Constance Rowe-Sullivan, 52, a UAW Local 2209 member in Fort Wayne Indiana

Lisa McDavid, 39, a UAW Local 2209 member in Fort Wayne Indiana

Lisa -"As we took off in the airplane I got nervous. To ease my spirit Looked out the window at the horizon towards sunrise, the sky ironically gleamed of red white and blue, almost a rainbow effect. A new day has come."

Constance -"You could feel it in the air the closer you got to Washington D.C. the crowd of people going ‘your way' just got bigger. No pushing, no complaints there was a peace in everyone"

Lisa -"The spirit of the city was a feeling we all shared. We arrived on Friday 1-16-09, a calm throughout the weekend and in the touring of the city, among all the people there was a calm. In the mass of people on the day of the inauguration, in that sea of humanity, there was a calm. We shared moments, smiles, and the spirit with all our sisters and brothers."

Constance -"The crowd had no color, there were no boundaries, no us and them, man or woman, we were so much of a family on that day of the inauguration. Age and race, none of it mattered."

Lisa -"It may have been cold on January 20th but young and old, smiled, hugged, supported each other and cried together as we shared this special moment."

Constance -"Since his nomination on August 28th, I always felt Barack would win. Now here I was in Washington D.C. it was finally freedom and fairness, equal rights had arrived, I felt like we lost the right to complain. I had preached for years and talked about our issues, now in a moment, the field had been leveled, you had to be there to feel it."

Lisa -"In all I had studied and knew of Black History I was finally able to be part of a dream so many African Americans never lived to see. I was honored by that thought and emotional to the point of tears as I thought of those who had come before me."

Constance -"We (the mass of people) all knew that now our diversity mattered. It was like we were equal among those we stood with and came in contact with, I hope we can keep that feeling moving ahead."

Lisa -"Just before Barack Obama took the oath of office and gave his inauguration speech, the clouds parted and the sun started to warm our cold faces. After the speech as we began to exit the area, clouds formed again, the wind picked up and it got colder, then the Bush family flew over us in the helicopter, I took a picture and sighed in relief, wiping a cold tear from my cheek."

Constance -"When Bush and Cheney were introduced all the people in our area started singing ‘na, na, na, na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye' that brought cheers, smiles and laughter to us all."

Lisa -"It was a perfect trip, we left town with a very loose plan, all we had was a hotel and a map. We ended up in the Silver section as we received tickets from our contacts in the UAW, contacts made through family and friends we knew there, it was meant to be, it was a convergence of so many good things, words just do not describe the feeling."

Constance -"My education in politics came through my membership in a labor union. I owe so much to the UAW, My father stood with Walter Reuther as I stand with Ron Gettelfinger today. As a member of a labor union I am part of a social movement, for dignity and respect, fairness and equality." Lisa -"When the cannons fired to proclaim the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States was complete, I burst into tears, I was so emotional. His reading of the oath of office was like a wedding vow to me, it had that much feeling for me, for the people I was with, my family, the people of America, it was emotional."

Constance -"And more than Barack; Michelle Obama is now the first lady. A strong black woman in the White House is a wonderful feeling. We (as women) have always had to fight to be seen and heard, this is a very proud moment for us. And the example that will be set by Sasha and Malia Obama will enable a generation to gain from this presidency in ways yet to be seen."

Constance Rowe-Sullivan, 52, a UAW Local 2209 member in Fort Wayne Indiana and the daughter of Robert L. Rowe retired International UAW Staff Arbitrator and member of UAW Local 211 Defiance Ohio. She was also accompanied by her Niece Kimberly Rowe.

Lisa McDavid, 39, a UAW Local 2209 member in Fort Wayne Indiana and daughter of Herman McDavid retired UAW Local 1112 member.

Quotes compiled by Mark Gevaart Fort Wayne Indiana UAW Local 2209