It probably should have said, ". . . proclaim January 20, 2009, from approximately 2:00 p.m. EST until midnight, a National half=Day of Renewal and Reconciliation" . . .

Before he was sworn in he couldn't presidentially proclaim anything for that first part of the day.

I understand the motivation to make it January 20 because of the auspicious events of around noon of that day, but that cut things short.
Maybe that's why so little press attention.

Dave Oesterreich