Reservists participate in Inaugural parade

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
Ninety members of the 459th Air Refueling Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., braved bone-chilling winds Tuesday to form an all-volunteer marching troop in the Presidential Inaugural parade.

Weather and intense security notwithstanding, hundreds of wing hopefuls offered their time and participation for the historic event. The end result was a diverse formation of four officer and 86 enlisted Airmen who marched into history to celebrate the inauguration of the Nation's first black president.

"This is truly a proud and awe-inspiring moment not just for the 459th, but for the world," said Lt. Col. Michael E. Laughton, 459th ARW command executive. "The Air Force Reserve is a unique organization of all career fields: doctors, lawyers, plumbers, firemen ... people who excel on the outside and yet volunteer their time to serve - whether through deployments or an incredible event such as this."

Reservists who had marched in previous inaugurations seemed to share the giddiness of first-time participants.

"Oh my goodness, look at all these people - wow, this is something I never thought I would see in my lifetime," said Senior Airman Bridgette Gilmore as she peered out of the charter bus into the crowd.

Parade marchers were not the only volunteers to help make the Inaugural parade a success before the eyes of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz.

Reservists from all services joined tens of thousands of police officers, federal agents and National Guardsmen who were deployed on land, water and in the air in an unprecedented effort to ensure the event's safety and security.

The security effort involved Secret Service agents; 8,000 police officers from the District of Columbia and other jurisdictions; 10,000 National Guardsmen; about 1,000 FBI personnel; and hundreds of others from the Department of Homeland Security, the National Park Service and U.S. Capitol Police.