My 2009 Inaugural Adventure16:55 Feb 14 2009
Times Read: 638
Here is my post of the Inaugural Adventure for all if you to read:
When I volunteered for the Obama campaign I never knew how far we were going to go – or that I would ever be invited to the Inaugural Ball!!
I heard in November I might be going, to get a formal and volunteer for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, so I did. I was cleared before Christmas for security, and got my instructions from there.
I was told there would be a training the weekend before the inaugural weekend. This was after January first so I had to scramble to get there. As luck would have it there was a busload going for a 24 hour day to DC so I got on and got to my training. We went through a big snowstorm, and came back through an ice storm (that was the same front) and the bus trip took a day and a half, because the traveling was slow going.
Training for the time I was there took in 14,500 people. They did this in 2 trainings, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. The next day was one and the following evening. We had close to 30,000 volunteers and over 100,000 applied. I was picked to do the Kids Inaugural Ball, for Disney, and was one out of 40 in my training. After training I was put into Pre Concert to be backstage with Miley Cirus and the Jonus Brothers. This was changed, including on what to wear, many times.
Upon arrival at the DC Verizon Center where 14,000 kids nationwide were treated and honored to the concert, we were given new instructions. Our group was made into 20 people and we went through 2 secret service checks and taken to the VIP lounge where the meet and greet was to take place. I was asked to go outside, downstairs, and wait with Secret Service for the VIP check point to check for the special VIP passes. I got to check in Barrack Obamas ½ sister, and Michelle Obamas Brother. I also worked closely with the Secret Service Police.
When we were done I was given my tickets to the Southern Ball for the following night. This was held at the DC armory. I asked my friend Derek to go, since he had a Tux and lived there in DC. He met me at the Verizon center to walk me to his place.
Upon trying to leave the Kids Inaugural, most of DC was closed to all traffic, including pedestrian. This made it harder to get around. We were hungry and tried to go to dinner. There was a 2-3 hour wait to get in and order everywhere. We did finally find a place.
I then took the train back to my friend in Wheaton where I was staying. Earlier that day my friend Hank got to do a breakfast with the big donors. He was going to escort The President, and Vice President to church service the next day, and had an invite to the actual inauguration. Since it was so crowded and hard to get around in DC I stayed with my friends to watch the inauguration on TV. I noticed the gal who escorted Sasha and Milia to their seats out of the Capitol Building was a secret service woman I worked with the night before.
He was in!!! Finally Bush was out!!!!
I started to get ready for the Ball. I decided to take my dress on the train and change at Dereks. The train was full of people in gowns and tuxes. On my way to Dereks from Union Station I ran into a few vendors leaving. They had a good day, very long, but had to walk their merchandise out. I got some stuff then.
I got to Dereks, and he called for a cab. We were told 2 hours but he showed up in 5 minutes. The Ball was held at the DC armory. It was a big ball, but I heard they all were this year. I heard 3000 people were at the ball I was at. The first band played a southern rock/blues style. The bar was a pay bar and the drinks were $6.00. The food was more like appetizers and they were free. They had a very expensive merchandise table. I heard some people paid between $150.00 to $1000.00 for a ticket, even though they were not supposed to be for sale. They were upset there was not an open bar there.
After the band played VP Joe Biden came out and spoke and then danced with his wife Jill. Then the Marine Color Guard came out and did a Flag ceremony. The Marine Brass orchestra came out to play, Hail to the Chief and Barrack and Michelle Obama came out. Barrack gave a speech and in that speech thanked Michelle for being by his side. Then they danced. After that the whole Ball tried to leave at once. We waited for an hour then left. There was a country band playing a folks still dancing. It was a very cold night and we walked to get a cab.
The next day DC was crazy with people getting out. I got to my car, bid farewell to my friends and was on my way just after noon. On my way home I encountered people that went too. I stopped at the rest area in PA and it was people from Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, PA, all over - all kinds - singing and talking at the rest area. Everyone went and the toll booths were backed up too. I saw 3 national guard convoys, 3 homeland security convoys, a red cross bus and all kinds of Obama lovers and inaugural attendees, all the way home on the highway!
I still can’t believe I got to go! What an experience!!
Footnotes:
I got my gown at Marcs. They had a Davids Bridal closeout. I got a $200,00 Betsy and Adams gown for$15.00. I got my Chinese Laundry shoes (very comfortable) online for $9.99. (they are now on sale for $120.00) Seemed that after Christmas no one was biding on e-bay. Thanks to Kimmy on Freestufflakeco, who put me wise to get the dress. I was the only one in that color, a few in that style showed up – including the plum I almost picked. I saw many dresses at the ball that I saw at Macys and Dillards but didn't get.
I also saw a congressman check into the VIP for the Kids Ball that had so much stuff in his pockets that you don’t know why or where he put it all. Loose change, 3 blackberrys, 2 cell phones, 3 watches and other stuff. His wife said he used it all while the other congressman who was with him picked on him about not having a purse, SUV, or House to put it in and asked where he kept the kitchen sink. After he went through some Secret Service Police snickered but it was over and not another word said. They do keep secrets!!
The Verizon Center security was really outta line. They didn’t want to take orders from secret service and were rude to the attendees and us volunteers. I had to remind Vern, head of their security, how concerts were ran and who was boss. I think the event went to their head. Liz, who was head of the whole thing thanked me for getting involved.
I stayed at My friends Hank and Helens house. I’ve known them for many years. One of the things we learned on my trip was that Helen and I were related through our fathers. Hank did a lot for the election. He was able to help host the Contributors Breakfast and escort the Obamas and the Bidens to the morning prayer at St. Johns cathedral the day of the inaugural. He got a formal invite and a silver ticket to attend the Inauguration. Unfortunately he couldn’t cross Pennsylvania Ave to get to his seat. Neither could some CNN news people or Martha Stewarts assistants. This was due to many outta state police personnel who took orders but didn’t understand that there were to be some exceptions and to assist those to their places. This seemed to be the biggest complaints but considering the estimated 10 million people who were there. Spirits were high and people celebrated without major incidents any ways.
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