“I’m excited about being there (and) I’m extremely proud of my daughter for inviting me to escort her,” Charters said.
The father-daughter duo will not only get to attend the inauguration, they’ll get to watch and even be a part of various events preceding and following it, including the Presidential Inaugural Parade and various inaugural balls.
“I’m looking forward to that as well,” Charters said. “It should be a fun schedule of events that sound very appealing.”
Credit: Bill Lackey
Credit: Bill Lackey
On Friday, it was announced the noon inauguration ceremony would move inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda due to freezing temperatures forecasted in the D.C. area. Those attending the inauguration on the National Mall will be relocated to Capital One Arena, which is where the NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NCAA’s Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team play home games. Trump said he would visit the crowd after he is sworn in to a second non-consecutive term.
Laura Rosenberger, of Clark County’s Green Twp., said she’s attending the inauguration because she supports the Ohio Republican Party and represents Clark, Clinton and Greene counties as State Central Committee Woman, District 10, and is the executive chairman of the Clark County Republican Party.
Rosenberger, who also serves as a board member on the Clark County Board of Elections, said she’s better prepared for Trump’s second inauguration having attended his first one, which was a taxing-but-rewarding experience.
“You really have to be dressed appropriately,” she said, “It was very cold and ... (there was) a lot of going back to your hotel and changing clothes in between things and back and forth. It was physically exhausting, but it was worth it because it was really exciting to be there.”
Rosenberger said she’s excited to be attending another inauguration and planned to arrive as early as possible in the morning. She said “everybody needs to be excited about it and be happy and not worry about anything negative happening.”
“I know a lot of people are a little worried about going out there under the current political climate and crises that are happening, and drones flying all over the place and stuff like that, but I think we need to celebrate our victory, and be sure to keep a sharp eye out for things, but I’m very confident that it’s going to be great and we’re all going to have a good time.”
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Middletown natives Kelley and Corey Carter, who are taking 9-year-old son Miles, said they are excited to have scored seats at the inauguration.
“We really enjoy all aspects of history, so just to be able to say that we got to be part of a historical event and be that close, I think is important for my husband and I,” Kelley Carter said. “(We want to) show our support and witness history.”
She and her son will be wearing custom-made Trump sweatshirts for the event.
Carter said it’s important for her and her husband to teach their son how government runs and that, just like Vance, who grew up three streets over from where the Carters live, he can “end up being what he wants to be someday.”
“I’m thankful that he has a desire to know not just the basics,” Carter said. “He wants to know how things work ... and I think being able to go during any inauguration, no matter what party it’s for, to be able to see something like this, I think is just going to continue to spark that curiosity he already has.”
Premier Health’s Mariah Woodward, an athletic trainer at Middletown High School, said it was “very surprising” when the school district asked if she would travel to Washington, D.C., to support the Middletown Marching Band, which was invited by Vance, a Middletown High School graduate, to represent the city and perform in the Presidential Inaugural Parade.
“I was not expecting to be even considered to travel, so it was shock,” Woodward said. “I felt very honored to be thought of as somebody they would want to travel to support the students and then just excited to be a part of everything.”
Woodward will ensure medical support during the trip, including creating a medical roster and managing medications.
Although she’ll be witnessing an historic event, Woodward said she’s the most excited to see the students in the parade.
“Seeing them practice is one thing, and there’s a lot of excitement about it, but I think to actually see them in the parade with everything else going on ... I think that’s going to be really huge,” she said.
Premier Health donated drawstring backpacks, hand sanitizers, first aid items and water bottles, to help the marching band, cheerleading squad and adult chaperones stay healthy and organized prior to their big performance.
“To feel like there’s this whole big entity behind you that cares enough to be a part of what you’re doing, I feel like (that) means a lot,” she said.
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