Massive crowd to greet Obama

From NBC's Pete Williams Security checkpoints are now closed off for the eastern end of the National Mall, the half closest to the U.S. Capitol. It's no longer possible to enter the area east of 14th Street, which is the street that borders the Washington Monument. The National Mall East of 12th street is also closed. This is right before the Washington Monument and everything from the Washington Monument to the Capitol building is at full capacity. A U.S. Park Service official says that the eastern half of the mall, between the Washington Monument and the Capitol, was filled to capacity by 8:30 am.  "And it's fairly densely packed," he said. The Park Service has traditionally declined to estimate the size of the crowd, a tradition to which it clings again today. ...( read more ) (link)