Attend U.S. Presidential Inauguration
Honor. Bravery. Brotherhood.
They are words that many use, but few understand the meaning of. I do not claim to have a deep understanding of the meaning of these words myself – but when I see them, I recognize them. And never before in my life have I encountered a group of people that embodied these words more than the men I found myself honored to spend time with over the 2013 Inaugural weekend in Washington D.C.
The Commander-in-Chief ball was fun, mostly because I really adored the CAKE provided by some famous Food Network cake man.
Actually, I enjoyed the Salute to Heroes inaugural ball more, because to me the event had more meaning. The film they showed at the beginning of the evening was very moving. I guess it all comes back to the same point. My memories of the Presidential Inauguration will be defined by the people I met there…people of true strength and honor.
As I watched these men from some of the world’s most notorious wars – Vietnam, a war where soldiers were once considered not heroes, but villains -- recognized for their honor and bravery much too late. World War II, the people who had taken down evil in its purist form. Korea, a war I knew little to nothing about. Their experiences had all taken different forms, but the result was the same – these were men that had been forged by unspeakable pain – and it was clear that the brotherhood that united them was unbreakable.
I pray that it does and always will.
They are words that many use, but few understand the meaning of. I do not claim to have a deep understanding of the meaning of these words myself – but when I see them, I recognize them. And never before in my life have I encountered a group of people that embodied these words more than the men I found myself honored to spend time with over the 2013 Inaugural weekend in Washington D.C.
My best friend Lillian invited me to D.C. to attend the
Inauguration with her Uncle, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Bryan
Thacker. I wasn’t sure what to expect…but what I discovered was that the
Inauguration, the Inaugural Balls, in retrospect – they all paled in comparison
to the experience I had being around the most incredible men I have ever met.
But first, about the Inauguration itself: it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The energy at Capitol Hill was tangible, it warmed the crispy cold air (the kind of cold air that finds and inch of bare skin that is exposed and instantly numbs it).
As Kelly Clarkson and Beyonce belted out patriotic tunes, I thought about how crazy it is that this ceremony goes back to the inception of our country (granted they didn’t have Beyonce but still...impressive). I feel such gratitude that we have such a peaceful transfer of power, especially considering far less attractive alternatives that are happening around the world. We may be a mud-slinging bunch of opinionated people, but at least things don’t get violent.
We attended two Inaugural balls later that evening: the Commander-in-Chief ball with performances from Jamie Foxx and Marc Anthony (we missed Alicia Keys and the first dance by Mr. and Mrs. Obama though). 
The Commander-in-Chief ball was fun, mostly because I really adored the CAKE provided by some famous Food Network cake man.
Actually, I enjoyed the Salute to Heroes inaugural ball more, because to me the event had more meaning. The film they showed at the beginning of the evening was very moving. I guess it all comes back to the same point. My memories of the Presidential Inauguration will be defined by the people I met there…people of true strength and honor.
A couple of brief facts about the Congressional Medal of Honor: 1) It is the highest military honor, the only to be worn around the neck and not pinned to the soldier’s uniform. 2) It is one of the rare moments that the President of the United States performs a salute.
As I watched these men from some of the world’s most notorious wars – Vietnam, a war where soldiers were once considered not heroes, but villains -- recognized for their honor and bravery much too late. World War II, the people who had taken down evil in its purist form. Korea, a war I knew little to nothing about. Their experiences had all taken different forms, but the result was the same – these were men that had been forged by unspeakable pain – and it was clear that the brotherhood that united them was unbreakable.
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