Sen. Barack Obama’s election as the 44th President of the United States on Nov. 4 will serve as an inspiration for all who believe in the possibility of an “American Dream,” many have said.

Obama becomes the nation’s first black President after beating Republican Senator John McCain 364 to 142 in the Electoral College and after winning the popular vote by nearly eight million votes over the longtime Arizona senator.

“This is definitely a historical moment for our nation,” Dennis Bogen, Crenshaw County Democratic Conference chairman, said. “When I first heard the announcement that Obama had won, I was speechless—I was on the phone and had to hang up—I was in tears.”

Bogen wasn’t the only one celebrating the historical moment during the evening of Nov. 4 as a large group gathered for an election watch party at the home of John Dillard of Luverne.

“We had people from Georgia, from Auburn and Pike County, and several from Crenshaw County there, including students from Brantley and Luverne schools,” Bogen said. “We had people of all ages, black and white, at the election watch party.”

“When they made the announcement, the students were jumping up and down on the couch, people were calling on the phone, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” Bogen said. “It was a joyous moment.”

Bogen explained that the group gathered in prayer for President-elect Obama, asking God to guide him and his staff in their future endeavors for the country.

And since this is such a historic time in our nation’s history, political and campaign souvenirs will increase in value not only monetarily but also in sentimental meaning.

“I only have one Obama campaign button left,” Bogen said, laughing. “I gave all of mine away.”

Now that Barack Obama has been selected as the President-elect, the history-making events are not yet over. There will be chartered buses carrying supporters from Alabama, including residents from Crenshaw County, to Washington, D.C., to witness the Jan. 20 swearing in ceremony, another monumental moment in history that Bogen does not want to miss.

“Obama will have a tough task ahead of him; it’s not going to be easy,” he added. “But whether it takes 4 years or 8 years, at least the economy will be getting back on the right track.”

For more information about the chartered buses going to Washington, D.C., for the Jan. 20 swearing in ceremony, please contact Tim Daniels at 334-464-8493.