A presidential inauguration only comes around once every four years, and several local residents wanted to be sure to see it in person.
Among those making the trip to Washington, D.C., for Friday’s event are Brady Riley, 18, a senior at Crothersville High School; Jacoby Gillis, 19, a 2015 Crothersville graduate studying management at Purdue University; and Tim Molinari, 19, a 2016 Seymour High School graduate studying aviation and flight technology at Indiana State University.
Riley and Gillis are traveling to the nation’s capital together after receiving tickets from Indiana Ninth District Congressman Trey Hollingsworth, while Molinari will be going with about 100 ISU students through the American Democracy Project.
Riley said in the fall, he started thinking about attending the inauguration. The day after Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States, Riley looked into what he needed to do to make it happen and found someone to go with him.
“Just to see something like that happen would be something that you’re going to remember, so that’s mainly why I wanted to go out there,” Riley said.
Gillis said he considered going to the inauguration long before the election results came out.
“I have been a long follower of the Trump and (Hillary) Clinton race, one of the most historical races, in efforts that I could vote for the candidate that would reflect our country well and one that would do well in favor of the American people,” Gillis said. “I have not been to a political event this big and am excited to experience it. I’m sure the environment will busy and chaotic.”
Molinari said he saw a flier at school about an inauguration trip, which would cost $40 round trip by charter bus, and thought it would be a great opportunity.
“Since I have never been to an inauguration before, I figured I might as well take this opportunity to go,” he said. “I figured that this would be the perfect time to go see a presidential inauguration, especially for $40 being a college student.”
On Thursday, Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and later will speak before a concert at the Lincoln Memorial.
Then at 9:30 a.m. Friday, the presidential inauguration ceremony kicks off outside the U.S. Capitol. Officials estimate more than 800,000 will attend the event, which features several speakers and musical selections before Pence and Trump take their oaths of office.
Trump then will deliver his inaugural address, followed by a few more speakers and the singing of the national anthem.
Read the full story in Wednesday’s Tribune at tribtown.com.