There seemed nothing more fitting on Monday for those who braved the cold to march in celebration of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to then watch the nation’s first black president be sworn in for his second term.

“That is the dream in reality,” said Anthony Whitmore, general chairman of the MLK Dayton, Inc.

On Monday marchers ended their march at the Dayton Convention Center, where the inauguration was broadcast on two large screens. Several hundred people watched as President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were sworn in.

“I think this just epitomizes what Dr. Martin Luther King would want,” said Jeffrey J. Mims Jr., a member of the Ohio Board of Education who is running for Dayton City Commission.

Quandell Wilson, 28, of Dayton said he does not judge people based on color, but he had to admit it made him feel really good to see a black man be inaugurated as president not just once, but twice. He said a Facebook post he saw put it best, “I have a dream, I am the dream.”

“I’m pretty proud,” said Raeon Nelson, 16, of Germantown.

Amina Johnson, 28, of Franklin said that as a mother she is particularly hopeful because Obama’s inauguration is a message that “what we can achieve as an individual is no longer confined to your background, your upbringing.”

Obama’s speech hit on several themes that resonated with listeners, particularly when he talked about the nation’s obligation to take care of the needy, the elderly and children.

“But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future,” Obama said.

“The commitments we make to each other through Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, these things do not sap our initiative, they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.”

Nan Whaley, a Dayton City Commissioner running for mayor said that section of the speech was “beautiful”

“It was like this call from the greatest generation to the new generation and this bridge and how we support those two,” she said.

Alma Williams of Trotwood said Obama covered mose of his bases. “I believe he can get something done.”

Carol Prewitt, chairman of finance for MLK Dayton, Inc., said she is optimistic that will happen. Others shared her view that somehow Obama will be able to find a way calm the warring political factions and do what needs done to improve things.

“President Obama is hopefully going to change the world for the better,” said Ke’Von Adams, 18, of Springboro.

Rob Scott, chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party, said he participated in the march but watched the speech at home. He said Obama’s message clearly was that “Washington needs to stop bickering and stop calling names in order to get stuff done”

“My opinion is people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. He spent the last year’s campaign destroying Mitt Romney, destroying Republicans in Congress,” said Scott. “Although it is nice he wants to change the dialogue in Washington he needs to lead by example.”

Tom Kerslake, 55, of Springboro, agreed that Congress and the president need to work together more. He particularly wants them to get a budget approved and stop with the periodic fiscal turmoil. But Kerslake also said Obama needs to focus on preserving the Constitution and to “stay the course” in keeping America’s way of life as it is.

“I think Obama means well but I think he might be wanting to do too much,” Kerslake said.

Others agreed fully that Obama is right to want more of America. Whaley and Meghan Fernandez of Dayton were particularly heartened by his support of gay rights.

“Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law,” Obama said, “For if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.

Fernandez listened to the speech from the stands in Washington, having obtained a ticket through a friend of her sister who works in the White House.

“I was very happy the president actually said that in an inauguration speech,” said Fernandez, 30. “To me that kind of separated it from other speeches.”

Fernandez was excited because her tickets put her close to multiple celebrities. She said she saw Katy Perry, John Mayer, Angela Bassett, John Singleton, Nick Cannon and Shawn Wayans and had her picture taken with some of them.

Another area native was at the inauguration as a participant. U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brock Cummins, whose parents - Harry and Jenny Cummins - still live in Jamestown, is a member of the Honor Guard participating in the parade. Cummins, interviewed by phone, said he was “honored” to be was chosen to help CBS by providing commentary on the guard. He said his mother was very excited when he told her the news.

“I had to pull the phone away from my ear because she was screaming so much,” Cummins said.