Youthful optimism tempered with the wisdom that comes only with experience marked local reaction as young and old gathered in Vicksburg to watch Tuesday’s inauguration of Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th president.

About 300 students waited restlessly around a big-screen TV in Bowmar Elementary’s auditorium, then cheered wildly as Obama delivered his inaugural address. “I think he is going to work very hard to prove that he can do the job,” said Tristan Rushton, 11, one of six students in the school’s Gifted and Talented Educational Services program who talked about the speech afterward.

Their teacher, Mille Wolfe, said they had talked in class about Obama’s children. “It’s the first time in a long time that there have been children that are the same ages as you living in the White House,” Wolfe reminded them. “He said one of the reasons he was running is because he wants to make a difference in the lives of his girls.”

“He said he’s going to restore and help the schools,” said Afton Wallace, 11, “so we can have a better future.”

At the Vicksburg Senior Center, talk centered not on the future but the past as some regulars stuck around after the center’s daily exercise video to watch the inaugural events in awe.

Lillie Plummer was recording the inauguration at home, but lingered after the morning workout to hear Obama live “in the moment.”

As Obama took the oath from Chief Justice John Roberts, Les Brown, 64, a retired Vicksburg Junior High School custodian, sat beaming with a smile between each sentence of Obama’s speech.

“I never thought it would be like this,” Brown said. “This is history today to see a man like Obama take the oath.”

As the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters belted out strains of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” seniors who watched the events chimed in with the melody — and added words of wisdom to put the day in perspective.

“You can’t always blame the president for things,” Arveta Avant said. “Sometimes, the Congress can turn you down. But (the ceremony) was very nice. He shows determination.”

Current issues also found their way into students’ reactions, among them Obama’s call for a “spirit of service,” the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the state of the economy.

“At first I didn’t like him,” said Alex Martinez, 12, “but when I got to know what he really feels about things I like him now. I hope he does a good job.”

Wolfe used symbolism to drive home the message of unity to GATES students — those who make up their regular classwork and pursue various character-building activities —  to those who had reservations about Obama during the election.

“Remember what we talked about with the umbrella?” Wolfe said. “You can have an umbrella in the rain but unless you open it, it doesn’t do you any good. It’s the same thing — you have to be open-minded now that he’s president.”

As footage cut away to the Obamas and the Bidens exchanging hugs and handshakes with members of the outgoing Bush administration, talk at the senior center turned to fashion, particularly the light gold dress and cape and green gloves worn by Michelle Obama and the oversized hat donned by rhythm-and-blues legend Aretha Franklin during her rendition of “My Country Tis of Thee.”

But, it wasn’t long after Obama wrapped up his speech that senior center director Jennifer Harper cut to the chase.

“Well, his work is cut out for him now,” Harper said.

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Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com.

Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com.