Washington DC -- Yes, second Inaugurations aren't usually as crowded as the first. But being at an Inauguration was the main point for the local folks News 2 talked spoke to on Monday.
Greensboro Police Officer Mike Maul is one of thousands who were tapped to be on the Inauguration security detail. He told News 2 by phone about his day experience. The security crew call was at 2:30am and his main duty was the parade.
"Our job is to watch the crowd to see if there are any threats out in the crowd when the President or VP or any of the dignitaries come through. We can't look around or take pictures. We are constantly scanning the crowd."
Officer Maul went on to say one of the most amazing parts of being in DC is seeing the transformation. He said at 6pm on Sunday night, the streets were closed, concrete barricades put in, tents and stands built. He says when the balls are over Monday night, all the blockades come down and it will be business as usual on Tuesday morning for the commute.
News 2 also talked to Jerusha Smith. She organized a trip for about 60 local folks. They boarded a bus midnight Sunday and drove through the night to get to the Inauguration Monday.
Jerusha described it as an "exhilarating and exhausting" experience. She said it was exhilarating to be there, especially as an African-American woman. She said the walking, security checks and such made the experience equally exhausting.
Only a chosen few were selected to protect the president and his guests. Greensboro police officer Tim Moore was another Triad resident helping with Inauguration security. He was on the night shift, helping with transportation for VIPs ath the Inaugural Balls.
"I was one of the lucky few that was there to meet the president," he said. "He went around and he greeted everybody individually, you know shook their hands, thanked them for their services. And then he spoke to the group for about 10 minutes. So that was a pretty special moment."