Joseph Jackson, 6, center, helped celebrate the presidential inauguration a few days early. The festivities began with the kindergartners and first-graders having a parade in the school Jan. 15, 2009 in Houston.
Attendants watch the Presidential inauguration at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Jan. 20, 2009 in Houston, TX.
Vanessa Smith cries as others cheer.
From left, Edna Besiant, Vanessa Smith and Dr. Emma L. Amacker react to the Presidential inauguration.
Dr. Jackie Cobbin holds her hand over her heart during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner following the Presidential inauguration.
Elizabeth Harman of the Flying Tigers drill team from the Collins Klein High School AF ROTC practice Jan. 8, 2009 in Spring, TX at Collins Klein High School. The team will be the only Houston school unit appearing in Obama’s inaugural parade.
M1 rifles, weighing approximately 11 lbs each, fly around Cpt. Jacob Ackman, 17, as the Flying Tigers drill team from the Collins Klein High School AF ROTC practice. 
John Kroon, 16, stands at dress right dress.
From left, Evan Gilless and Angel Garza toss M1 rifles, weighing approximately 11 lbs each.
Sgt. Gloria Quiorga, 16, center, laughs following practice.
A three-alarm blaze damaged or destroyed up to 20 units at a southwest Houston apartment complex early today before firefighters extinguished it, almost two hours after it was reported. The fire at the Enchanted Fountains Apartments, 6909 Renwick at Edgemore, spread through an apartment building quickly because the building did not have firewalls, said Houston Fire Department District Chief Tommy Dowdy. Jan. 9, 2009 in Houston.
Nathan Hurt, left, son of Dr. R. Wayne Hurt, 68 and Maryann Hurt, and family friend Daniel Davis, right, look on at the remnants of a fire where Hurt’s parents perished in the River Oaks area at Timber Lane and Locke Lane killed two people inside early Saturday morning Jan. 17, 2009 in Houston, TX.
Briani Clark of Dodson Elementary delivers her oratory at the 13th Annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ, 500 Clay St., on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. Twelve pupils from HISD elementary schools competed in the contest. The competition, hosted and coordinated by Texas-based Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP law firm, kicked off with a performance by the Salvation Army Harbor Lights Choir at 9:45 a.m., followed by the oratory competition at 10 a.m. Students presented original five-minute speeches on the topic: “If Dr. King were alive today, what do you think he would say about current events?” Students were judged on their delivery, stage presence and decorum, content interpretation, and memorization.
Briani Clark of Dodson Elementary delivers her oratory.
Participant Kayla Joseph, left, turns toward the audience.
Kaye Allen, mother of participant Adrian Childs wipes away tears of pride as Childs’ coach Lilene Caldwell of Anderson Elementary looks on as the young man finishes his oratory.
First-place winner Gerra Gistand of MacGregor Elementary delivers her oratory.
Jace Beck of the Austin-based quad rugby team the Texas Stampede, reaches back for a pass during a game against the San Antonio Roughriders at the US Paralympic Military program sports expo Jan. 17, 2008 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The program also included demonstrations for veterans to show them how to compete in events such as sitting volleyball, power soccer, challenge slalom, wheelchair rugby, Judo for the blind, air gun competition, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair racing and an amputee walking/running clinic.
People gather to light incense, candles and pray Jan. 26, 2009 in Houston, TX at the Teo Chew Temple in celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year. 2009 is the year of the Ox in Chinese astrology.
Mai Ha holds incense and prays.
Chris Ha, right, gathers with others to light incense, candles and pray.
Danny Lam lights incense.
Chris Ha prays.
Chinese New Year at the Chinese Community Center, Jan. 31, 2009 in Houston, TX.
Portrait for Rockets player Von Wafer. Jan., 30, 2009 in Houston, TX.
Throwing Candy 