Gospels, D.C. Video Feeds Add Capitol Drama To Celebration
Photos by Courtenay Nearburg Committee chair Denny Freidenrich gave the keynote address at the Laguna Beach Inaugural Gala. At least 300 people donned evening gowns and tuxedos for a nonpartisan inaugural gala in Laguna Beach on Tuesday at Seven Degrees.
Ebullient guests were visibly moved by images projected around the venue displaying a timeline from the end of the Civil War to the swearing-in ceremony of Barack Obama on the steps of our nation's Capitol.
The party's vibe was one of joy and optimism. The Laguna Community Concert Band played as guests arrived on a red carpet. Marine Corps staff Sgt. Stephen Stone led guests in Pledge of Allegiance, and Rev. Mark Whitlock from Irvine's Christ Our Redeemer AME Church gave the invocation. Laguna resident and award-winning poet Kate Buckley read her original poem, "Of Hope, Of Light," written expressly for the occasion. The evening's events were streamed live on the gala's website and are archived at www. atthisdefiningmoment.com.
The Praise Team, a sevenmember choir from the AME Church, sang four inspirational songs that had the crowd swaying and clapping. When the recorded video of the inauguration and highlights from President Obama's speech were shown, many partygoers shed tears of joy and hugged one another.
Karen O'Connell, left, celebrated with gala committee members Betsy Gosselin, center, and Maggi Henrikson Organized by a 25-member volunteer committee, the gala was the brainchild of longtime Laguna resident Denny Freidenrich, who remarked during his keynote address, "Barack Obama's election as this nation's 44th president is as important as the elections of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt."
Members of the inaugural gala committee included Kathleen Abel, Max Brown, Kate Buckley, Robert Cassard, Chuck Carstensen, Denny and Leah Freidenrich, Betsy Gosselin, Joe and Jane Hanauer, Maggi Henrikson, Michael and Lauren Howell, the Hon. Toni Iseman, Cort Kloke, Barbara McMurray, Carrie Pohlhammer, Chris Prelitz, Audrey Prosser, Herb Rabe, Jorge Rodriguez, Diane Valentino, Sandie Ward, Bara Waters and Denise Wheeler.
Rev. Mark Whitlock of Irvine's AME Church and Laguna resident, poet Kate Buckley. Among those attending the gala were Laguna Beach Unified School Board member Betsy Jenkins and her husband Gary, Bill Witte, Mike and Nancy Meyer, Roger and Eileen Ohanesian, Lin Beers and Ken Steinhoff, Debra Quam, Laguna Beach planning commissioner Anne Johnson, Design Review Board member Robin Zur Schmiede, Pam Wicks, Robin Pierson, Mary and Alan Sofferman, Maria and Bill Hoffman, Morris and Stephany Skendarian, Danny and Kristy Melita, Karen Redding and Dr. Ed Kaufman, Thurston Middle School teacher Patricia Twitty, education consultant Kristin Thomas and her parents Jim and Marilyn Thorpe, Traci Snow, Sheran James, Lauri Mendenhall, Mary and Bruce McDonald, Richard and Paola Bisson, Karen and Doug Wilson and many others.
