When Barack Obama is sworn in as the nation’s 44th president on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., three Brandon Township residents will be amongst the hundreds of thousands of people there to see history in the making.
John Dickie, his daughter, Alexis, and Tyson DeLandsheer have scored tickets to the Jan. 20 inauguration, in which they will be present as Obama takes the oath of office and gives a speech on the steps of Capitol Hill.
‘I think it will be an amazing experience,? said DeLandsheer, a 2006 Brandon High School graduate. ‘I would love to see any inauguration, but this one means so much? (Obama) is the first black president and he can make a huge difference, especially in our economy. It will be great to see him sworn in.?
DeLandsheer, 21, obtained his ticket to the momentous event by arguing for Obama in a debate at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, where he is a junior majoring in biomedical engineering. DeLandsheer was part of a 6-person debate team that was pro-Obama and faced a pro-John McCain team to promote the election and get students more aware of topics.
‘Whoever’s candidate won, the team would get to go to the inauguration,? said DeLandsheer, who argued why Obama’s environmental platform was better than that of opponent John McCain.
Besides his environmental stance, DeLandsheer said he also likes Obama for his positions on education and the economy, and was very excited to cast a vote for him in his first presidential election.
‘The fact that he is black is cool, but race didn’t factor into my decision at all,? DeLandsheer said. ‘He was just amazing on all of the issues.?
DeLandsheer will fly to Washington, D.C. today with his debate team, stay at a college two miles from Capitol Hill, and sightsee for a few days prior to the inauguration. He traveled to the city two years ago with a friend and saw major tourist draws such as the White House, Lincoln Memorial and World War II Memorial, but hopes this time to see more of the city. He is also excited to attend the Michigan Inaugural Ball at the Museum of American History on Tuesday evening.
While Obama will not attend the Michigan Inaugural Ball, about 2,000 others will, including Governor Jennifer Granholm, as well as Senator Carl Levin and Senator Debbie Stabenow, and, in a show of bi-partisan support, Republican Congressman Mike Rogers, who represents the 8th District, which includes Brandon Township.
‘Inauguration day isn’t about a party,? Rogers said. ‘It’s bigger than any person. It’s about the peaceful transfer of power? the most powerful country in the world peacefully transferring power from one administration to another. There are no tanks, no shooting, no rioting in the streets. It’s all done because an election of the people took place. In today’s world, that is still an amazing accomplishment, no matter what your political beliefs are.?
This will be Rogers? third inauguration and he expects to get the same shiver down his spine as he had the first time in 2001 when he watched George W. Bush take the oath.
On Tuesday, Rogers will again sit in the stands reserved for members of Congress, about 15 yards from where Obama will address the nation in his first presidential speech. He again anticipates to look out over a sea of people on the National Mall.
‘As far as you can see, there are people,? he said. ‘Every possible spot that someone can be standing, there will be. All these people come out and it’s a significant event in the strength of a democracy. It’s thrilling to see all these people cheering and carrying on.?
Rogers? office received over 1,000 requests for inauguration tickets from constituents. He had only 198 tickets to give away and John Dickie was one of the names drawn from a dish. The township carpenter, 46, will take his daughter Alexis, a 17-year-old Brandon High School junior.
‘I think it will be a cool, historic event that we can both always remember,? John Dickie said. ‘We’re maturing as a nation that a black man can get elected to office. It’s definitely a turning point for America.?
The closest accommodations Dickie could find to Washington, D.C. were 70 miles away, but still in Maryland. He and Alexis will make the drive tomorrow and pick up their tickets on Monday from Rogers? office.
This is their second trip to Washington, the first being about four years ago, but this time he hopes to see the Jefferson Memorial. On Tueday, he expects a madhouse in the city, but is looking forward to Obama’s speech, as is Alexis.
‘I’m really excited to hear him speak, because he is so inspirational and really good with words, so I think that will be really moving,? she said.
Her dad agrees.
‘I think he will motivate a lot of people,? he said. ‘He’s very inspiring and smart and optimistic… He’s going to be everybody’s president.?