Academy cadets to march in inaugural parade

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

01.15.2013

Courtesy Story

U.S. Air Force Academy

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Cadet 1st Class Erin Doran of Brunswick, Ohio, will salute the president in the nation’s capital, Monday, as she leads fellow Air Force Academy cadets in the 57th Presidential Inaugural parade, Jan. 21, in Washington.

Doran is this semester’s squadron commander for Cadet Squadron 22. She will lead 82 cadets from her squadron in the Inaugural Parade, which represents the Air Force Academy by virtue of being named the Academy’s outstanding cadet squadron for the previous academic year.

Traditionally, military units from each of the five branches have marched in the presidential escort and in the Inaugural Parade. More than 2,100 military personnel will be marching in the Inaugural Parade, with approximately 5,000 supporting the Inauguration all together.

Additionally, for the current Inauguration, 2,807 groups applied to march in the parade. All applications were collected and organized by Joint Task Force – National Capital Region and 317 were submitted to the PIC, which is appointed by the President-elect. These applications were reviewed by the PIC with assistance of the JTF-NCR, including members of several military bands, musical acts and drill teams.

“The Inauguration day parade is the largest, most complicated event that takes place in the nation’s capital, which requires a multitude of mission partners to work together,” said Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, JTF– NCR commanding general. “The role of the military in this event is one of support. We are here to support the Presidential Inauguration Committee, Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and the other civilian agencies.”

The military participants in the Inaugural Parade are broken up into five divisions, with the first four divisions consisting of Army, Marine, Navy and Air Force, respectively. Division 5 will be Coast Guard and Merchant Marines.

Participants in the Air Force Division, and their marching order, is as follows:
- An Air Force command contingent, which will include an Air Force Academy cadet. Cadet 1st Class Josh Williams, Cadet Wing commander, will march in the cadet contingent, bring the Academy’s total number of cadets in the parade up to 84. The command contingent will be followed by:
- The U.S. Air Force Band
- Cadet Squadron 22 from the U.S. Air Force Academy.
- The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard
- The U.S. Air Force Color Guard
- The U.S. Air National Guard, 113th Wing, D.C Air National Guard
- The U.S. Air Force Reserve, 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, MD.

The U.S. armed forces has provided support for official presidential inaugural ceremonies dating back to April 30, 1789, when members of the Continental Army escorted George Washington to the first U.S. presidential swearing-in ceremony at Federal Hall in New York City.

Two other organizations from Colorado will also participate in the Inaugural Parade: The Native American Women Warriors from Pueblo West and the Ballet Folklóico de la Raza from the Colorado Springs area.

The Inaugural Parade is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m., EST. Traditionally, the parade route begins at the corner of 4th Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, goes west on Pennsylvania Avenue, then north on 15th Street, and finally west on Pennsylvania Avenue to 17th Street. Total distance is about 1.65 miles.

• Date Taken: 01.15.2013
• Date Posted: 01.15.2013 17:40
• Story ID: 100573
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US