WASHINGTON - The nation's 55th inaugural celebration began Tuesday amid cold and blustery weather, with a salute to the military past and present, a private reception for deep-pocketed supporters of President Bush and a youth event at the D.C. Armory hosted by the president's twin daughters and featuring teen-centric entertainers and a call to service for the country's youth.
Bush, whose motorcade left the White House Tuesday for MCI Center and the first event of his second inauguration, expressed gratitude to the military in what he called a time of war.
Wednesday, on the fourth frigid day of a cold wave expected to last through the inauguration, there will be a concert and fireworks on the Ellipse and private candlelight dinners with those who underwrote the cost of what is estimated to be the country's most expensive inauguration at $40million.
The inaugural events, the first since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, are under the most severe security measures in inaugural history. More than 100 square blocks of Washington will be closed for the inauguration, some as early as noon today.
Many people are being encouraged to stay off the streets. The federal government has encouraged employees to work from home or leave early today, yet more time off in a week that began with a federal holiday and features a paid holiday tomorrow for the inauguration. Tonight, Bush is expected to attend the Black Tie and Boots Ball, not an official inaugural event but one that features campaign and inauguration high rollers.
Thursday, Bush is scheduled to attend a prayer service in the morning, then take the oath of office at noon at the West Front of the Capitol, lunch with congressional leaders and ride down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, leading the inaugural parade. After the marching bands have packed up, the president and first lady Laura Bush will attend nine official inaugural balls, including the Commander-in-Chief Ball, whose attendees will be military personnel who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan or are about to be deployed there.
Weather forecasters said Tuesday night that it might snow on the president's parade. Two low-pressure disturbances, called Alberta Clippers, are expected to sweep through the region, one Wednesday and one Thursday, with temperatures at the freezing mark and a chance of snow both days, said Steve Zubrick, a meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Sterling, Va., who briefs the Presidential Inaugural Committee twice daily.
The forecast was welcome news to Stephen Sanders, who designs and sell fur coats. He had a booth set up at the Texas Fair & Market Place, part of the Texas State Society's inaugural activities at the Wardman Park Marriott Hotel in Northwest Washington. He was selling everything from rabbit scarves for $99 to a golden Russian sable coat with a price tag of $75,000.
"You are going to see a lot of fur coats," and not just because of the weather, he said. "This is a crowd that likes furs and wears them."
There is another crowd, though. Protesters from an array of groups with a variety of causes said thousands of them will be on hand Thursday. Wednesday, a federal judge turned down one antiwar group's request to give them and members of the public more access to the inaugural parade route.
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman said he saw some evidence that the Presidential Inaugural Committee, which is organizing events for the Bush administration, was being much more restrictive than in years past. Friedman said the protesters who sought the court's emergency intervention had not proven they had a strong chance of winning their case on its merits, and it was potentially dangerous to alter inaugural plans and security policies 48 hours before the event.
"There's the suggestion that the cards have been severely stacked against people _ except those who could get tickets by being invited, and most people can't," Friedman said. He added: "At this late date, issuing an injunction would be averse to the public interest."
Wednesday, the Secret Service, overseeing security for official inaugural events, cleared up its edict on crosses being included on a list of banned items, which had outraged some religious groups. Secret Service officials said they meant to ban only large cross "structures," not crosses worn by individuals.
The variety of forecasts, court rulings and clarifications came as hotels welcomed thousands of guests, and thousands were gathering at MCI Center for the kickoff event.
Thousands of men and women in military uniforms, many accompanied by spouses and children, attended the event. A half-dozen coach buses and chartered vans ferried Medal of Honor winners. VIPs in civilian clothes arrived in limousines.
Police closed streets around MCI Center to motor vehicles for the tribute, which lasted more than two hours. Those who attended were treated to a red, white and blue spectacle that wrapped President Bush in a warm mantle of support from the military.
Among them were 60 recuperating soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. "You watch the kids coming in here from Water Reed right now; they're missing arms and legs. That's what this is all about," said Kurt Beckenhauer, museum program assistant with the Coast Guard, who watched as security guards ran metal detector wands over decorated war veterans. "There are Medal of Honor winners here who are 80 years old. It doesn't matter what side of the aisle you're on. They're defending the country."
In between were uplifting videos dedicated to past military victories and current missions, interspersed with the theme from the movie "Top Gun" and tributes to each branch of the military. There were tearful salutes by family members who have lost loved ones at war, and former president George H.W. Bush and others read letters to home written by veterans across the ages.
Attendees said they were privileged just to be present.
"We came out from Colorado a day early just to attend this, to honor the troops. We really appreciate their sacrifice," said Robert Dieter, 54, a law professor from Boulder. "It's important for people to be mindful of that, especially when service people are in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Air Force Capt. Benito Barron said he came so that his wife, Heidi, could hear a message of appreciation. "Being a service member affects your family, so this is a way for my wife to hear the commander in chief and others say thank you, rather than have her hear it from me," said Barron. "We're very grateful for the event as a whole; it's a wonderful gesture."
