Although smaller than four years ago, the crowd of several hundred thousand gathered at the National Mall early today for the public celebration of the second inauguration of the United States' President, Barack Obama.

Almost 308,000 riders used the Washington Mass Transit System to get to the Mall in front of the Capitol for the ceremonies. Crowds estimated at over 800,000 swelled the Mall by mid-day and ceremony start.

President Obama was formally sworn in at a small ceremony at the White House on Sunday. This was done to comply with the Congressional mandate that sets the Presidential inaugural date as no later than January 20th.

The Obamas started their day with a church service across Lafayette Square near the White House. The Vice President and his wife joined the President at the service.

The President’s motorcade moved slowly towards the Capitol this morning at just before 11 am through the crowds that gathered along the route that cheered “Obama!”

The widow of Medger Evers, Myrlie Ever-Williams, kicked off the ceremonies with an invocation.

Crowds of flag-waving viewers cheered on as Vice President Biden took his oath of office from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Shortly thereafter, the President was administered the oath, while using the bibles of President Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., the President was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr.

Following the oath of office, trumpets blaired “Ruffles and Flourishes,” then the U.S. Marine Band played “Hail to the Chief,” which was followed by a 21-gun salute.

Following the inauguration, the President delivered a stirring speech to the crowd that filled the mall to bursting. The theme of his speech focussed on the freedoms that the forefathers of America laid out over two cenuries ago as well as our incomplete journey as a nation. He kicked off his speech with a phrase from the Constitution, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing; that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth. The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a Republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.

His speech departed partly to the left however as he spoke of the “shrinking few” that do well and the broad shoulders of the rising middle class.” He spoke of outdated social programs saying, “We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time. We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, and reach higher.”

At the same time, the President spoke of unity, using the term “together” no less than seven times to push for common grounds. But still held to that Constitutional and civil rights theme, “We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.”

As his 19-minute speech drew closer to the end, Obama pointed out, “For now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay. We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect. We must act, knowing that today’s victories will be only partial, and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years, and forty years, and four hundred years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.”

As he brought his speech to a close he spoke stirringly, saying, “Let each of us now embrace, with solemn duty and awesome joy, what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history, and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.”

Kelly Clarkson, the winner of “American Idol” followed the President’s speech with a her rendition of “America” along with the Marine Corps Band.

After the ceremonies outside the Capitol, the President moved inside the Capitol to sign official documents and take part in a luncheon.

Later today, at a little past 2:30 pm, the President and his family will lead the traditional parade along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

There will be two inaugural balls held in Washington tonight that will take the festivities late into the night.