Being There

High school student Parker Bender worked for months raising $1,200 to travel to Washington, D.C., for the presidential inauguration. But unlike the vast majority of people on the National Mall Tuesday, the 17-year-old from Marshall, Ill., did not come to hear President Barack Obama speak.

"I didn't really pay attention too much," Bender said of Obama's speech. His parents, he said, had supported Republican presidential nominee John McCain, leading him to lean towards the Republican, as well.

Bender still thought it would be fun to come with the rest of his high school civics class to Washington for the inaugural festivities. To pay for their trip, the students held car washes and bake sales and operated a dunk tank at their school's fall festival. They also were hosts for a local candidates forum before the election, asking attendees to donate money for their trip.

Bender said the thing that has most stood out to him about the inaugural experience was just being a part of the vast crowd. "There's a lot of people. It's pretty cool," he said. "You don't get to see that every day."

-- Emily Cadei