After almost two years of campaign, Barack Obama finally waited for his moment to come as he was officially sworn in as the 44th U.S. president on Tuesday and the first African-American president ever, driving out hail, tears and hopes for a better future from hundreds of thousands of people at the Capitol Hill.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States," Obama said as he took the oath administered by the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court with one hand on the Bible used by former President Abraham Lincoln and the other hand up.

Hail broke out right after he finished the last word of the oath, and reverberated in sky above the Capitol Hill for long time. Joy burst in tears that were flowing down faces, and people hugged each other for mutual congratulations, no matter they are acquaintance or strangers.

"Yes we did, Yes we did ..." Hurrah was heard, in a contrast to "Yes we can," which has been taken as a slogan by Obama's team and supporters when he was still a presidential candidate.

Waves of applause and hail swarmed to the Capitol Hill as Obama was delivering his 20-minute inaugural address, reiterating his commitment to national unity to push for changes in the country.

"I think it is fantastic," said Odman Thompson-Kelly from Illinois, the state Obama has represented in the Senate. "Being an elected official of the United States, I think it is an honor we all could be proud of."

"What he said (in the inauguration address) basically maintained what he has said in the past 10 years that we can achieve anything we set our minds to and we determine to do," she said.

For Sharon Greengolden from Virginia, the most impressive message in Obama's speech is to build a strong nation to help others and also defend from others.

"His address is very inspiring, and it will motivate Americans to help fix problems that we get into."

A lady from New York who refused to disclose her name said that she was touched by Obama's "beautiful" remarks that people should back each other in such a tough situation.

Kate Covengile from Michigan said that she found many positive messages from Obama's first speech as the president, especially the sentence "your people will judge you on what you can build not what you destroy."

"It is very forward-looking and all-inclusive, and I believe he is the best man to do that," she said.

Obama's historical moment invited an estimated two million people to congregate in front of the Capitol Hill and the National Mall, which was open for the first time for more people to watch swearing-in ceremony, despite a temperature of below zero degree Celsius.

Although the inauguration ceremony was set to begin around 10 a. m. ET, the Metro carrying people to the Capitol Hill started to be stuffed as early as 5 a.m..

"I know there would (be) millions of people there for the inauguration ceremony and presidential parade, and I might not see him (Obama) in person, but being there for the historical event is all about it," said Michael Gordon, a Virginia resident on the Metro train.

(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2009)