(CNN) It was a decisive moment, a historic moment. A moment when a nation realized its greatest hopes and darkest fears.

Where were you, we'll ask each other, days or years from now. Where were you when Donald J. Trump confounded pundits and upended projections to become the President-Elect of the United States?

It will be hard to forget such a moment, or the pivotal images that have immortalized it.

To set the stage, here is CNN's Wolf Blitzer making the announcement:

JUST WATCHED Donald Trump elected president Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Donald Trump elected president 00:49

The emotion was instant. You could see it in the crowds dotted with bright red hats who cheered, sobbed and embraced at Trump's election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown hotel.

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