Schedule of Inauguration Day

Well, Americans young and old, black and white, christian and atheist, have all braved the cold to witness one of the most historic days to date for African Americans and for the United States. The first African American president! Maaaaaaan! It is believed that more than 3 million people will wtiness the Inaugural Ceremony this morning. The gates opened at 8 am, but folks have been in line as early at 1:45am in the brittle cold! The celebrationss are scheduled to start at 10 am on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.

The schedule of event is as follows:

++ The amassed Barack Obama fans will be treated to musical selections of The United States Marine Band, followed by the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus.

++ Senator Dianne Feinstein will open with a call to order and welcoming remarks.

++ Invocation by the Rev. Rick Warren.

++ A musical selection of Aretha Franklin will be played.

++ Joe Biden will be sworn in as Vice President of the United States of America by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

++ The gathered crowds will then enjoy a stunning musical selection of John Williams, composed and arranged with Itzhak Perlman, (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet).

++ The moment the whole world is waiting for: Barack Obama will take the Oath of Office, using President Lincoln's Inaugural Bible from 1861, held by Chief Justice John Roberts. The inauguration ceremony is set to take place around noon (ET) - or 17:00 GMT.

++ Obama will give his inaugural address to the nation and people watching and listening around the world.

++ A poem by Elizabeth Alexander will be read.

+ Benediction by Rev. Joseph E. Lowery.

++ The US National Anthem will be played by The United States Navy Band "Sea Chanters" to cap off what is set to be a historic and no doubt emotional inauguration ceremony.

++ President Obama will then escort outgoing President George W. Bush to a departure ceremony before attending a luncheon in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall.

Obama to Bush: "Make sure you have all your coloring books out of the Oval
Office dude!"

++ The 56th Inaugural Parade will then make its way down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.

++ And later that day, the Presidential Inaugural Committee will host ten official Inaugural Balls.