One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos

Updated 10:36 AM ET, Tue January 22, 2013

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An expensive journey to Washington, a long wait in the cold, shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and intense security. It's not easy or trivial to be one of the 800,000 people in D.C. for President Barack Obama's second inauguration. Who are they, and what compelled those who are attending to be there? CNN iReport and Instagram teamed up to find out. <br /><br />Texas college student Lyzette Garza (@lyzettegarza) and her best friend traveled to D.C. to be part of the inauguration festivities.

Photos: One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos

One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos – An expensive journey to Washington, a long wait in the cold, shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and intense security. It's not easy or trivial to be one of the 800,000 people in D.C. for President Barack Obama's second inauguration. Who are they, and what compelled those who are attending to be there? CNN iReport and Instagram teamed up to find out.

Texas college student Lyzette Garza (@lyzettegarza) and her best friend traveled to D.C. to be part of the inauguration festivities.

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George Washington University freshmen Marissa Salgado (marissa_salgado), left, and Bethany Thomas (@bethanythomass) were up since 4 a.m. Monday, "because we were so excited about the inauguration and wanted to make sure we had a great view. It paid off! We were as close as you could get without having tickets."

Photos: One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos

One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos – George Washington University freshmen Marissa Salgado (marissa_salgado), left, and Bethany Thomas (@bethanythomass) were up since 4 a.m. Monday, "because we were so excited about the inauguration and wanted to make sure we had a great view. It paid off! We were as close as you could get without having tickets."

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Freshman Congresswoman Grace Meng, D-New York, shared a photo of herself with some of her fellow female freshmen. From left: Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-New Mexico; Meng; Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona; and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii. "It was really emotional for us freshmen," said Meng, who uploaded this photo to CNN iReport.

Photos: One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos

One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos – Freshman Congresswoman Grace Meng, D-New York, shared a photo of herself with some of her fellow female freshmen. From left: Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-New Mexico; Meng; Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona; and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii. "It was really emotional for us freshmen," said Meng, who uploaded this photo to CNN iReport.

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"This is something I can tell my kids and grandkids about when I get older," said Jamillah Hodge (@2punkins), left, who lives in Carneys Point, New Jersey, and caught a bus with her best friends to D.C. "My favorite moment was when Barack Obama entered the Capitol and said, 'I've missed this place!' Loved It!"

Photos: One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos

One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos – "This is something I can tell my kids and grandkids about when I get older," said Jamillah Hodge (@2punkins), left, who lives in Carneys Point, New Jersey, and caught a bus with her best friends to D.C. "My favorite moment was when Barack Obama entered the Capitol and said, 'I've missed this place!' Loved It!"

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Lots of young people were in the crowd. This is Chris Ngo (@icraychris), a 14-year-old from South Carolina. He described this day as a "once in a lifetime chance" and said he couldn't be happier to be on the mall Monday.

Photos: One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos

One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos – Lots of young people were in the crowd. This is Chris Ngo (@icraychris), a 14-year-old from South Carolina. He described this day as a "once in a lifetime chance" and said he couldn't be happier to be on the mall Monday.

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"This is history in the making, and I just could not pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The crowd felt surreal," said Cameran Tucker (@camtucker25), a junior at Notre Dame High School in West Haven Connecticut.

Photos: One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos

One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos – "This is history in the making, and I just could not pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The crowd felt surreal," said Cameran Tucker (@camtucker25), a junior at Notre Dame High School in West Haven Connecticut.

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Lisa Lee (@rrrlisarrr), left, a diversity program manager at Facebook, said <br />Obama's inauguration was especially meaningful to her. "Like many of our fellow Asian-Americans, we are here to celebrate a president who we've felt is inclusive of our voices and experiences," she said. "[The inauguration] means a renewed sense of promise and commitment to change our society for the better, not just from the president and his administration, but for everyone."

Photos: One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos

One in 800,000: Your inauguration photos – Lisa Lee (@rrrlisarrr), left, a diversity program manager at Facebook, said
Obama's inauguration was especially meaningful to her. "Like many of our fellow Asian-Americans, we are here to celebrate a president who we've felt is inclusive of our voices and experiences," she said. "[The inauguration] means a renewed sense of promise and commitment to change our society for the better, not just from the president and his administration, but for everyone."

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