Barack Obama was sworn in at 12:06 PM January 20, 2009 making him the 44th U.S. President and first African-American elected to the office.

The clock starts.

Pundits, detractors and supporters alike will watch with scrutiny as the USA struggles with some of its most challenging circumstances in modern history.

But today, at least for a short moment, we can inhale the pride, the hope and the sense of progress this inauguration represents.