WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Crowds fill the National Mall on a crisp Monday for the second inauguration of President Barack Obama, as he recited the oath of office and address the nation a day after formally beginning his second term.
The nation's first African-American president will become only the 17th U.S. leader to deliver a second inaugural address before heading the traditional parade up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.
Amid the pomp and ceremony, with heralding trumpets announcing the arrival of dignitaries and red, white and blue bunting festooned throughout central Washington, the event symbolizes American democracy with a peaceful extension of power based on last November's election that returned Obama to the White House.
"Welcome to this celebration of our great democracy," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, declared in opening the formalities of the nation's 57th presidential inauguration.
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