The Innaugural Parade

Monday
0630: The Marines chosen to participate as representatives of the United States Marine Corps Reserve arrive at the unit stationed at Washington's Naval District. They have been selected from the Distribution Liaison Company, 4th Supply Battalion, 4th MLG and the 4th Civil Affairs Group, Marine Force Reserve.

0730: As Marines, preparation is everything--whether readiness for war or the celebration and honoring of a new president. This day will be spent preparing and practicing the drill movements to be used in the parade march. The primary drill movements include bringing the rifles to the left shoulder, the right shoulder, and port arms where the rifle is held in front of the Marines.

The formation is actually split into 3 platoons in columns of 3--each with their own platoon sergeants and platoon commanders, but to the viewer, it appears as a solid block of a 9-by-9, 81 Marine formation.

0930: The drilling continues throughout the morning and the ceremonial 8th and I Marines show up to practice with us. The 8th and I Marines appear in state ceremonies, Marine Corps Advertisements, and many other faces of the Corps but are perhaps best known for being responsible for the Silent Drill Platoon that performs all across the country.

1300: The preparation culminates in final practicing that lasts several hours on the parade deck. Having a chance to talk to the 8th and I Marines, we all joke around about and share our experiences in the Corps.

1800: Practice for the day is completed and square-away time is given to allow us the chance to inspect and fine-tune our uniforms for the following day.

Tuesday--Inauguration Day
0430: We awake early to eat some quick morning chow of eggs, sausage, and pancake squares (not quite as appealing as it sounds, trust me) then get dressed in our uniforms.

0630: We load the buses and head out with our rifles to the "dirty" site where our buses will be inspected and we will pass through Secret Service security checkpoints equipped with magnometers and K-9 units. Following security and on our way to the "clean" staging area, crowds cheered as the Marines went by and I was astounded by the hundreds of thousands of people that made a lawn over the mall--each person a mere blade of grass it seemed.

1000: We finally arrive at the tents where we will wait until our group is called to line up. As Division 2, 5th element, we will be at the front portion of the parade which carries 6 divisions with many elements in each.

1300: We line up outside where we quickly find that the cold is pervasive and ceaseless in its attempts to wear us down but we're reassured by our commanders that Marines have been through worse many times in the past and come through victoriously nonetheless.

Finally, several hours later, we make the start of the parade route after having marched several blocks already and stood in the cold much longer than anyone anticipated. I thought my feet might never thaw--fortunately they warmed up after we began marching and were saved from being frostbitten.

After marching for block after block, I could see the Presidential Viewing Stand approaching. What a rush to know that the President, Vice President, their families, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and many other would watch us as we smartly marched past. Being on the direct close edge of the formation to the President, I glanced from the corner of my eye and there they were, not 20 feet away, looking on proudly to those that they would command. It was humbling to know the power that that man wields and also gave me a lot of pride to know that we would make history together in the coming years--the new President and an ever-ready Marine Corps.

This is a timeline of what it took a single group to prepare and enter the parade route. Many groups from all over the country were on-site including bands from Delaware who followed us in the line-up. I don't doubt all groups that proudly marched in the parade practiced and prepared for many hours and equally felt the impact of the cold January day in Washington.

As a Marine, I was greatly honored to be able to participate in the celebration of our nation's 44th president. It is a rare opportunity and but as a Marine, I know the value of freedom and peaceful transitions of power which many countries around the world do not enjoy as readily as ours.