UMM CRs travel to D.C. for Inauguration

  Below are copies of articles that have appeared in local media about the UMM CRs trip to the 55th Presidential Inauguration.

This article appeared in The University Register, Thursday, January 27, 2005 - Volume 17, Issue 13
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UMM students travel to attend Presidential Inauguration
Despite initial weather troubles, the trip is well worth the effort
by Kim Ukura, Assistant News Editor

The group left Minnesota early on Wednesday morning. What was supposed to simply be a brief layover in Chicago turned into a six hour flight delay due to bad weather in Washington D.C. The group arrived in D.C. late Wednesday night and they filled the evening with monument visits and exploring the hotel, the Ritz Carlton.

Thursday morning began the inauguration experience. After getting up early in the morning to pick up tickets, the group was fortunate to get through security rather quickly. People who arrived later often had to stand in security lines more than an hour long and many were even unable to get in to see the Inauguration because the tight security checkpoints took so long to get through. Weather for the ceremony was almost ideal; despite being a little cold, only about 35 degrees, there was very little wind and the sun even peeked out for a short time.

The theme of the inaugural ceremony this year was "A Vision of America." This theme was chosen to commemorate two important events in US history - the 100-year anniversary of Teddy Roosevelt's inauguration and the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition reaching the Pacific Ocean.

The ceremony began just after 11:00 a.m. with a song played by the United States Marine Band, followed by opening remarks from US Senator Trent Lott. Following Lott's introductory remarks, the Reverend Dr. Luis Leon gave an invocation to the gathering. Next, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham performed. After Graham's amazing performance, Vice President Richard Cheney was sworn into office by Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert. Despite his practice speaking in front of crowds, Hastert was unable to get through the oath without stumbling, but Cheney was greeted with a hearty round of applause after his swearing in.

Following another musical selection, this one performed by Washington D.C. native Denyce Graves, the point of the ceremony came. Despite being extremely ill with cancer, Chief Justice William Rehnquist stepped up to the podium and administered the Oath of Office to President George W. Bush. During the swearing in, Bush was surrounded by his daughters and wife, the first lady Laura Bush. The history of this moment was hard to ignore, "An inauguration is a sacred event in a democracy and attending the ceremony was overwhelming and beautiful," Nathan Swanson pointed out. Sarah Skogstad commented afterwards, "Just being so close to all the people who will change the course of history is amazing. And to be among so many other people who were out there to support one person and who shared common ideals with you was amazing." Megan Fowler added, "It was the most amazing experience to stand amongst 250,000 fellow Americans and witness the President take the Oath of Office and hear the United States Air Force Band play the Star Spangled Banner. It was an experience I'll never forget."

After taking the oath, Bush stepped to the heavily guarded podium to give his inaugural address. While not referencing any events of his last term explicitly, Bush alluded to the September 11 attacks, the war on terror, and the current war in Iraq. He also included sections on the need for personal responsibility and the importance of self-government. After his speech, another song was played, a benediction was given, and the ceremony was concluded with a rendition of the National Anthem. Afterwards, Emily Loehr said, "Diversity is great, but there's nothing like being surrounded by 500,000 people who love the president as much as I do."

Other highlights of the trip included visits to the International Spy Museum, the Smithsonian, seeing the monuments, and bonding with the other people on the trip. Katie Wickham commented, "My favorite part of the trip was forming relationships with other members of CRs and making friends!" April Kummrow summed up the experience of the trip most eloquently when she said, "That trip was more than a vacation; it was a learning experience in which we all gained a new appreciation for the gifts freedom and democracy are, and you don't have to be Republican to enjoy that."

This article appeared in The Minneapolis Star Tribune, Friday, January 21, 2005
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For Minnesotans, it was cool in a number of ways
by Rob Hotakainen, Greg Gordon and Paul Sand, Star Tribune Washington Bureau Correspondents

"It's really not too bad," said Dan Moore, standing outside the Capitol on Thursday with temperatures in the 30s.

Moore, a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, Morris, was focused on experiencing "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" watching the inauguration. A member of the College Republicans, he arranged for a group of 16 students -- including "at least three confirmed Democrats" -- to make the trek to Washington. The school's chancellor excused them from three days of classes.

"It's wonderful. ... It's fun to see the celebration of democracy," Moore said.

For hundreds of Minnesotans accustomed to the recent deep freeze back home, Washington's omnipresent security for the inauguration was more daunting than the chilly weather and an inch or two of snow on the ground.

Elaine Edberg, a Republican activist from Willmar, and her sister, Donna Howg, waited for two hours to pass through security screening to get onto the Capitol grounds. But when the swearing-in ceremony began, police halted the screening with masses of people still waiting.

"We would have been the next ones in," Edberg lamented. "I understand. ... Just being here is such a treat for me."

Governor in the mix

Minnesota's scattered contingents for Thursday's pomp and ceremony included Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the state's congressional delegation, GOP campaign donors, party faithful, at least two high school classes and home-state transplants now living in the Washington area.

"To be here at this moment, in this city, it just really hits home how wonderful this country is," said Pawlenty, who joined Bush in the reviewing stand during the parade.

When the Lakeville High School band marched by, Bush beckoned Pawlenty and his wife, Mary, to join him, the governor said.

"He said, 'These look like some really wholesome Minnesota kids,' " Pawlenty said.

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., called the swearing-in ceremony "American freedom in action, and it was magnificent."

And state Republican chairman Ron Eibensteiner, who watched from the Capitol lawn, said Bush's speech reminded him of Ronald Reagan's 1981 inaugural call for an end to Communist domination.

"Hopefully, President Bush will have similar results" in the Middle East, he said.

Also among the audience was Roxanne Lewis' wide-eyed, ninth-grade social studies class from the central Minnesota town of Upsala, population 400.

Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., got tickets to the swearing-in for the 26 students, Lewis and parent chaperones. The group was on the Capitol lawn at 8 a.m. Thursday.

"When you're there, it's kind of like your gut coming up to your throat," Andrew Lange, 15, said afterward. "It's weird."

Alex Knettel, also 15, called it "a powerful experience."

"I couldn't believe how big the Capitol was," she said. "I couldn't believe I was there."

Eric Decker, a teacher at Rochester's John Marshall High School, was thankful for the large TV screens scattered across the National Mall for the overflow crowd. Decker brought 21 students from his government honors class, only to find they were positioned near the opposite end of the Mall during the swearing-in ceremony.

Thursday's inaugural was framed by lines of police, military troops and helicopters overhead, and Scott Marek, 47, of New Prague, said it "is a good show that we can do this despite whatever threats there might be."

Bush campaign donor Robert Sparboe, the founder and chief executive officer of the Litchfield-based Sparboe Cos., bought $150 tickets to a ball for his wife and eight other family members.

"I think the pageantry is very important to bringing the nation together," he said.

Differing views

Not all of the Minnesotans were Bush fans.

"I voted for the loser, unfortunately," said Pol Sorquist, a senior at Bemidji State University. He was in Washington attending an academic seminar and said he wouldn't let his political views stop him from attending an inauguration: "I'm bigger than that. ... It's something I've never seen before, and I'm kind of a political junkie."

Renee LaVoi of Minneapolis, who describes herself as "not a strong Republican," said a friend snared her a ticket to a Thursday night ball.

"I like a good party," said LaVoi, 55, who also attended Bush's 2001 inauguration. "... I'm here for that reason more than to support Bush."

Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., offered a reminder that Bush still must contend with deep dissent. She said his legacy so far is "the crisis in Iraq, the fiscal crisis here at home and the deep divisions among our people."

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