Obama's Inaguration

Obama’s Inaguration
by, McCall Taylor

With the president-elect, Barack Obama, inauguration day coming up soon there has been excitement heard throughout the country. People from all over the world are already buying plane tickets making hotel reservations, and heading to Washington with high hopes to see the historical event come to life. Peter Gage is the Inaugural Parade Director and according to USA Today “his chief concern is accommodating the millions likely to flood into Washington on Jan. 20^th”. Although, he states in the article that the planning has run smoothly he admits that the committee has never had to worry about where to put 10,000 buses before until now.
In the Inagural Parade there will be more than 13,000 people reperesenting 90 groups marching, according to USA Today, and a range of 200,000 to 300,000 onlookers. Gage is hoping that people won’t avoid the event just to steer clear of crowds. He also says that he wants to make this as much of a red carpet affair for everyone as possible. It stated in the article that the parade will follow after Obama’s swearing in and private luncheon with congressional leaders.
However, the President’s Inagural parade isn’t the only historical event taking place in America. According to MSNBC.com, our new president-elect’s image is being recognized at the U.S Presidential Gallery in the Smithsonian Institution Museum. The memorable red, white, and blue collage which illustrates his portrait and the uplifting message “Hope” will be the picture selected to hang in the historical art gallery. This visage which became famous throughout the country during his presidential campaign will be presented and hung the same day that Barack Obama is inaugurated president.
The U.S National Portrait Gallery is a permanent art collection full of the presidents who have served in the past. Normally, the president’s portrait isn’t displayed there until after he has served his term and is no longer the president. Since he has made history by being elected the first African-American U.S. President he will have the opportunity to not only display his campaign portrait in the gallery, but also another portrait at the end of his term as president. In the article it declared that Barack Obama is the first U.S President to have his portrait displayed in the gallery before his term has ended or begun.
January 20^th marks the date when American history will be made and ‘Change’ will begin, and a new “Hope” will be brought to America.