A Presidential Parade

By: Daniela Ricci
Many tourists and DC dwellers alike made the trek back down to the Mall around 2:30 to watch the parade, despite the worsening weather. Still others retreated to neighborhood bars to watch it on television. This gave the die-hards outside a better view of the procession, which made its way from the Capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House, which had been opened to parade traffic for the occasion.

The Congressional Brunch ended, and the parade began with the Metro Police arrived on motorcycles with buggies, patrol cars and on horseback. The US Army Band, the Marine Corps Band, the Navy Band and the Airforce Band followed, and then the VIP motorcade crawled along, with members of Congress and the President's staff waved from half-opened sedan windows.

The Presidential Escort was next, marked by the arrival of two enormous trucks covered with cameras and the members of the press corps. Shouts rose up from the crowd as the man of the hour was sighted walking behind his limousine hand-in-hand with his wife. The President and First Lady waved at the crowd, making eye contact and smiling, even exchanging words. Then Vice President and Mrs. Cheney followed, greeted by shouts of "go get 'em, Dick!"

Everywhere, there were people with a fondness for the Bush's. "I remember going to Sunday school in Midland when I was fifteen years old, and George senior was my teacher," said Preston Bridgewater of Houston, Texas. "He related stories in the Bible to his days in the Navy, and that's what inspired me to be a pilot. Then, afterwards, George W. would show up and we'd throw a football around together. Those were good days in Midland."

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