Today, I am proud, once again, to be a citizen of the United States. I am long enough in the tooth to remember the day that John F. Kennedy was inaugurated. I remember that day mostly because of the tears I saw in my father’s eyes. But I also remember how proud he was that a Catholic, Irish-American was standing before the American people and bringing them together in a world that still did not understand how powerfully dangerous intolerance could be. It was on that day that I learned about patriotism, the responsibility of citizenship and the absolute privilege it is to be a citizen of the United States.

I watched Richard Nixon resign from the presidency in shame and disgrace.

I watched our country, during the last eight years, lose the respect of the nations of the world and I was not proud.

On this day, Jan. 20, 2009, I am more proud than ever of the country that is my home. As I watched the inauguration, I saw the faces in the crowd – black, white, yellow and brown.

We have a long road before us to recapture the passion that has dwindled in the recent years, but for the first time, I am confident that we will do what we need to do under the tutelage of the graceful, confident, intelligent and patriotic man we have elected to the highest office in the land.

Today I am proud.

Jean Domaingue, Lewiston