Long Islanders were among the more than one million people who packed the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Tuesday to witness the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Trains from the suburbs outside Washington, D.C. started rolling into the city at 4 a.m. Some people waited an hour or more just to board a train. By early morning, the busiest landmarks were busier than ever as hundreds of thousands of people crowded the mall.

News 12 Long Island?s Doug Geed caught up with Long Island residents who made the trip to the nation?s capital to see the historic event.

?I didn't vote for him because he was black,? Barbara Weber, of Westbury, says. ?I voted for him because he was competent. The man is brilliant. He's not a Messiah, but he is our next president.? Weber was a college student in the 60s who took part in voter registration drives in the South.

Manhasset social studies teacher and presidential buff Steve Gilroy says he?s been to other inaugurations and excitement Tuesday was not to be matched.