The anger combined with hope that became the momentum for Obama’s election is evident in his ability to motivate volunteers to his “day of service.”

That same approach to government and the oversight necessary over government and its alliances can, and will, help to restore public confidence in the integrity of its government.

In fact, nothing else may do that except that process - in these days of both corporate and government mismanagement and negligence. It may well be a place for him to begin.

I organized one of our city’s events for MLK Day of Service—1000 Valentines for the Troops. We had great participation and had a huge turnout. Children, seniors, students, and politicians created hand-made valentines and banners for our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the event was a fun one, it was also a time of reflection and remembrance, as well as the day before the long-awaited inauguration of a new era. So many emotions on that day!

I am a self-described peacenik, but somehow, with the new Obama era approaching, and his proven commitment to reconciliation, it was time for me too to participate in honoring our nation’s greatest volunteers, our soldiers. These brave men and women are no longer Bush’s warriors—they are now our brothers and sisters. It was their connection to Bush’s failed attempts at nation building that had me wishing people would just stop joining up and let the military fade away.

But now, today, this day, the world is a different place, and the hope that I feel for the future of this country, and the power of community involvement and service, especially for military service, gives me a new found respect for those who voluntarily lay down their lives for us. But it took Barack Obama to teach me this. That is the power of this man to model for us how we can reach across the aisle and include everyone in this great day. We are one again.