Christopher Dineen, on temporary duty from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, said being at the inauguration was “a once-in-a-lifetime thing.” (Morgan Loosli / S&S)
Christopher Dineen, on temporary duty from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, said being at the inauguration was “a once-in-a-lifetime thing.” (Morgan Loosli / S&S)
“It’s really different to see how it comes together, with 150,000 people showing up," said Staff Sgt. Kristopher Provencher, of the 621st Air Mobility Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. "It’s kind of amazing.” (Morgan Loosli / S&S)
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Spc. James Loomis, 21, of Lynchburg, Va., about the inuguration. “It’ll probably be the only time that I can be in uniform in our nation’s capital.” (Morgan Loosli / S&S)
Geoffrey Hoyt, of the 113th Communications Squadron in Washington, an Air National Guard unit, came downtown with his family to support the president. “Very much so,” he said. (Morgan Loosli / S&S)
Air Force Col. Anthony Mauer, Commander of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, was in town for a conference and got a ticket from Congresswoman Cathy McMorris, R-Ore. (Patrick Dickson / S&S)
(Click here for photos from the inaugural parade.)
(Click here for the full text of President Bush's inaugural address)
WASHINGTON — The 55th Inaugural festivites in Washington were special for everyone — but none more than the U.S. military.
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Spc. James Loomis, 21, of Lynchburg, Va. “It’ll probably be the only time that I can be in uniform in our nation’s capital.”
Loomis, from the 2nd Battalion, 116th Regiment of the Virginia National Guard, did not mind working under the Military District of Washington’s command for a few days.
“They called the governor, and here we are. It’s wonderful.”
Staff Sgt. Kristopher Provencher, of the 621st Air Mobility Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., put in for the duty.
“I like it,” the Manchester, N.H., native said. “It’s really different to see how it comes together, with 150,000 people showing up. It’s kind of amazing.”
Provencher, 29, wasn’t bothered by the protesters shouting as they walked past.
“They don’t bother us [military people],” he said.
Working security alongside him was Christopher Dineen, on temporary duty from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, for about a month.
“I wanted this. I had to go through two applications processes — I failed the first time. This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
Was he bothered by the bitter cold, coming from Hawaii?
“Oh, no. I was [stationed] at Malmstrom [Air Force Base] in Montana for 11 years. This is great!”
Thousands of military people had been tasked with security for the parade and other inauguration events, but some came just to be part of the party, or to show their colors.
Geoffrey Hoyt, 30, of Dansville, N.Y., came with his family to support the president.
“Very much so,” he said.
He rode Metro to the events, where, he said, he saw “all kinds of protesters” riding in, especially vocal anti-war protesters.
“They were dressed like President Bush and Vice President Cheney, and the guy dressed like the president had the world under his arm and he was drinking a can of oil … .”
Hoyt, of the 113th Communications Squadron in Washington, an Air National Guard unit, was jostled by protesters as he talked.
“Quite a mixed crowd,” he mused.
Also there just to support the president, Hoyt had words of encouragement for those deployed, as well.
“Good luck and — can I swear? Good luck and kick ass!”
Nearby, Zeqir “Ziggy” Berisha, a native of Kosovo and now a citizen with two sons in the U.S. Army and two in the Marines, waved his flag and shouted support for Bush.
“This nation underneath God is best on Earth!”
Asked about the protesters, he shrugged them off.
“Disagree is good! I disagree with my wife 35 years! Disagree is OK.”
Berisha spoke of how different it was when he was living in Yugoslavia under Josip Broz Tito.
“Tito used to shoot people for speaking against them. He shot two of my friends.”
Berisha is a little more reserved about free speech when it comes to his boys.
“I tell them, you speak against this country, you speak against me!”
