Anisha V. Williams Professional Portfolio

“I got a lot out of the inauguration and I will never forget it.” In addition to having a seat at the public
ceremony, Henderson was invited and attended a private swearing-in ceremony for Vice President Joe
Biden at the Naval Observatory.
Ethel Mae Henderson of Kenner greets U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at
President Barack Obama's second inauguration.
“My most funniest thing was meeting the vice
president. He has so much energy,” Henderson
said.
“Fortunately, with Donna Brazile, I was able to get
VIP to everything. We also had passes to sit in the
bleachers to watch the inaugural parade,”
Henderson said. “After the inaugural ball for the
public, I was invited to the White House in the
Green Room where they had a private inaugural
ball.” Hendersonalso attended the National Prayer
Service at Washington National Cathedral on
Tuesday. She said, “It was quite an experience.”
This was not a happenstance trip to Washington,
D.C. for Henderson It was preceded by several
months assisting the Obama for America campaign, setting up voter’s registration drives for her
neighborhood’s National Night Out, and organizing Jefferson Parish’s first-ever Presidential telephone
headquarters. “We did 1,800 calls in two hours right from this area,” Henderson said.
Edwards said, “The New Orleans area camp told my mom that the Kenner camp made more phone calls
than most of the other camps in that short period.”
Henderson said, “I had a chance to really relate to what it meant to me from the struggles that we’ve had.''
She recalled attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver in 2008. “I never thought I would
live to see a black man be president and with a second term. I’ve had so many wonderful experiences over
my life.”
Another one of Henderson's daughters, Gina Thies, accompanied her to the inauguration. Henderson says
she’ll be back in Washington in April, when she anticipates an opportunity to speak to President Obama in
person.
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