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Inaugural exercising

Posted by Lydia Rebac January 11, 2009 03:52 PM

Inaugural%20Practice2.JPG
(Alan Wirzbicki photo)
Amid a sea of empty seats, soldiers offer a salute to an actor playing president-elect Barack Obama after he took the oath of office during a rehearsal of the inauguration in Washington Sunday morning.

By Alan Wirzbicki, Globe correspondent

WASHINGTON -- As presidential inaugural addresses go, it may not have been the most eloquent. But the six-word speech delivered at the rehearsal of the inauguration ceremony Sunday morning was a model of no-nonsense military efficiency.

"My fellow Americans," declared Army Staff Sergeant Derrick Brooks of Fayetteville, N.C, who stood in for president-elect Barack Obama during the three-hour practice run. "God Bless America!"

The morning's invocation prayer, which will be delivered at the real inauguration next week by Rev. Rick Warren, was even simpler: "Let us pray. Amen."

Thousands of police officers, service members from all branches of the military, and musicians participated in the rehearsal, held on the west portico of the US Capitol building. The Marine band repeatedly practiced the official presidential march, "Hail to the Chief," delighting a few hundred hardy spectators who braved the pre-dawn cold to watch the drill. A rehearsal of the inaugural parade was held later Sunday morning.

The rehearsal also featured a volley from an artillery battery that was trucked in to Grant Park, just north of the Capitol grounds. On the day of the inauguration, Obama will receive a traditional 21-gun salute; only two blasts were sounded during the practice, but that was enough to set off a cacaphony of car alarms on Capitol Hill.

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Keeping track of the upcoming inauguration is one thing, but I do not feel that we, as the public, need to know every single detail of what is going on and the whereabout of pres. elect Obama. I am excited about the event, but given every detail is not news. Please focus on how we are going to recover from this economic crisis. Thank you

Posted by Jan January 11, 09 07:04 PM
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This whole debacle called under the disguise of inauguration is nothing short of being the most hypocritical statement ever. All we hear from Mr. Obama is the economy but how much will this party cost the American taxpayer? If hot air were gold then the whole bunch in Washington would be Trillionaires. Seems this is the only word that is repeated daily in Washington. He changes his rhetoric like the wind directions every day. He keeps trying to compare himself to famous Presidents of the past. He is not Lincoln and he is not Roosevelt! He is trying to hold the American people hostage with a 7.2% unemployment! 92.3% working!!!!!!

Posted by T. May January 11, 09 09:37 PM
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I must admit, I have caught the inauguration fever. Is anyone else heading for the Inaugural Balls? I will be at the Blue Diamond Ball which is focused on Obama's message for universal health care. Aren't there two Green Balls as well?

Posted by Mark 69 January 11, 09 10:34 PM
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