US President-elect Barack Obama arrived in Washington ahead of his inauguration ceremony tomorrow. He traveled on train from Philadelphia, the cradle of US independence, to the capital's train station as late US President Abraham Lincoln did at the eve of his inauguration in 1861. Obama was accompanied by his wife Michelle, his two daughters Sasha and Malia, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, as they will attend the inauguration ceremony. The inauguration is called "A New Birth of Freedom", the slogan of Lincoln, who ended slavery in the US. Masses of people gathered along the 220 Km to salute Obama, who responded by waving his hand at them. A concert was held yesterday for free at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, the place where Martin Luther Kind delivered his famous speech "I Have a Dream". The concert featured some of the world's top musicians, such as Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, Usher, the U2, Steve Wonder, Shakira, Mary J. Blige, James Taylor, John Legend and others. Historical passages were also read by star Queen Latifah and actors Jamie Foxx and Denzel Washington to celebrate the 44th US president. Obama promised his inauguration ceremony as first black US president would be the most open in US history, saying it would be the American people's day. Mr. Obama's swearing-in is due to take place in front of the Congress in Washington, which has been decorated with flags and colored lights, while its squares and parks have been filled with all kinds of decorations.
