Kindergartners celebrate inauguration with a ball of their own

It may have been delayed by snow for two days, but Sadie Crawley's kindergarten class finally got the chance to attend their inauguration tea party and ball Thursday.

"We are doing this in his honor, to show (President Barack Obama) that we are so proud of him," said Crawley, who teaches at Jacksonville Commons Elementary School. "It is just so great to see America change and to prove to kids that dreams can become a reality. I know he's the first black president, but he's not just my president, he's everyone's president; and to see everyone come together as one is just so exciting."

The class studied the election process from the beginning of the 2008 election, Crawley said. She wanted to make sure they remembered it.

"A lot of the time when you're in kindergarten you don't remember what went on in kindergarten, so I wanted to put an event, a special event, with history; and that way they will always remember and cherish this moment," she said.

A tea party seemed fitting. The students arrived in their suits, ties and dresses, and proceeded to say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the national anthem and have their first dance. They then watched Obama's inauguration through a Web site that hosted the video.

"I needed to make it child-appropriate and a tea party represents them. I thought maybe if I were to tie a tea party with a ball it would become unique and special with the children," she said. "We're always doing things for adults, it's time to do things for children."

Through the lessons, Crawley also spoke to the children about Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"We know that those guys all had the same dream - that we would come together as one," she said. "I did tell them, because of those guys, I could be everybody's teacher here ... all of us together."

Skylar Sampson, 5, was glad to be celebrating Obama's presidency.

"He's nice and he always has a pretty smile," she said, after participating in the class's first dance to "Proud to be an American."

Her favorite part, however, was the décor.

"I like the decorations because I like the stars on them," Skylar said.

Carlos Hurd, 5, was excited about Obama's move to the White House.

"He's our new president," Carlos said.

The celebration, he said, was something he hopes to remember for years to come.

"So I never forget this party, so I can remember Barack Obama," he said.

As students waited patiently on the dance floor covered in stars, Crawley shared a dream of her own.

"I'm just hoping one day one of them will become president of the United States and they can invite me to their inauguration as a special guest," she said. "I thought maybe if I did something really, really special maybe my class would get an invitation to visit the president in the White House. Dreams can always become reality."

Among those at the tea party were Crawley's parents, Turner and Sadie Blount, and her daughter, Okina Crawley.

Turner Blount was a Montford Point Marine, who were the first black men enlisted in the Corps, and a former Jacksonville councilman. He said he never expected to see a black man as president.

"I know it's a long time coming, but you didn't know if it would ever come, so it's something to be proud of," he said.

Turner Blount was also proud of the work his daughter put into the special party for her class.

"This is a beautiful occasion," he said. "A lot of work, but beautiful."

Contact Jacksonville/Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com.