Obama's day
| |||
 |
|
||
| |||
|
|
||
| |||
|
|
||
Beginning with George Washington in 1789, inauguration day has presented an opportunity for the nation to begin anew. The 2009 inauguration has two themes that focus on the past and the future: "A New Birth of Freedom" for the ceremony itself and "Renewing America's Promise" for the five days of festivities surrounding the inauguration.
"A New Birth of Freedom," a theme chosen by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, celebrates both the 200th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's birth and the election of America's first black president.
"Renewing America's Promise," also the theme used for the Democratic National Convention in Denver and for the party's national platform, expresses the new administration's desire to restore opportunity for all Americans and to rebuild the country's image around the world.
— Dan Garrow, Gannett News Service
OATH CEREMONY
The inauguration will take place on the west front of the U.S. Capitol at about 7 a.m. Hawai'i time on Tuesday. The program, in order:
Musical selections: The U.S. Marine Band, San Francisco Boys Chorus and San Francisco Girls Chorus
Call to order and welcoming remarks: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
Invocation: The Rev. Rick Warren, founder of Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., an evangelical congregation averaging 22,000 weekly attendees
Musical selection: Aretha Franklin, winner of 21 Grammy awards
Vice president's oath of office: Administered to Joe Biden by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens
Musical selection: John Williams, composer/arranger; violinist Itzhak Perlman; cellist Yo-Yo Ma; pianist Gabriela Montero; and clarinetist Anthony McGill
President's oath of office: Administered to Barack Obama by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.
Inaugural address: President Barack Obama.
Poem: Elizabeth Alexander, a Yale University professor who received the Alphonse Fletcher Sr. fellowship for work that "contributes to improving race relations in American society"
Benediction: The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, co-founder with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
The national anthem: The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters chorus
PARADE ROUTE
The parade will begin about 2:30 p.m., following a congressional luncheon. The 1.7-mile route from Capitol Hill to the White House will allow an anticipated 200,000 to 300,000 people to watch the participating bands, including those representing the armed services (photo above).
More than 13,000 people representing about 90 groups will march in the parade.
Pedestrian access/screening points:
• At the corner of 13th Street and E Street
• At the corner of 14th Street and E Street
There will be no restrictions on pedestrians outside of the parade viewing area.
INAUGURAL PLATFORM
The platform will be more than 10,000 square feet — the same as for the 2005 inauguration (shown above), the largest ever built for the event.
• • •
• • •
