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AFDW supports 55th presidential inauguration

  • Published
  • By Thom Robinson
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. --  President George W. Bush was inaugurated for his second term on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 20, as hundreds of members of the 11th Wing from Bolling Air Force Base participated in the time-honored inaugural tradition of rendering ceremonial support to the commander in chief.

On a cold but sunny winter morning in Washington, hundreds of Airmen in overcoats, scarves and gloves defied the elements and lined the inaugural parade route as cordon members along Pennsylvania Avenue to become a part of American history.

In addition to Air Force service members, the presidential inauguration cordon included military personnel from the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.

The swearing-in ceremony began at noon and the ceremonial parade down the avenue began around 3 p.m.

The inauguration involved nearly 100 units, both military and civilian, with some 11,000 participants in all. The parade included almost 5,000 military members, floats and equestrian units with 266 horses.

Air Force marching units represented the total U.S. Air Force and were comprised of hundreds of members from its components -- active duty, Reserve, Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The U.S. Air Force Band marching unit had 99 members, the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard had 90 members marching, the District of Columbia Air National Guard had a marching squadron of 90 members, the Air Force Reserve's 459th Air Refueling Wing ceremonial marching unit had 91 members marching, and the U.S. Air Force Academy's Cadet Squadron 21 had 83 cadets marching in the parade.

Also provided was a presidential escort by National Capital Region component commanders for President Bush during the parade. Col. Duane A. Jones, commander of the Air Force District of Washington and the 11th Wing, represented the Air Force in the presidential escort.

The Air Force Inaugural Liaison Office at Bolling coordinated much of the AFDW support to the Joint Task Force Headquarters-National Capital Region's Armed Forces Inaugural Committee.

Arrangements included coordination by the wing and AFDW for 11th Logistics Readiness Squadron to provide transportation, vehicles and drivers; 11th Services Division to provide box lunches for hungry cordon members and other participants; 11th Security Forces Squadron to provide security personnel and military working dogs; the 11th Medical Group to provide EMS personnel and other assistance and support for the event and rehearsals; and 11th Communication Squadron was tasked with graphics and photographic support, establishing secure communication links, and capturing and recording the event for dissemination and posterity.

Many members of "The Chief's Own" were invited and attended several inaugural events such as the gala for military personnel and the Commander in Chief's Ball.

While this historic event was a first for many members who participated, several wing members performed duties for the wing in support of past presidential inaugurations.

One such wing member is Ed Ophof, a former active duty Air Force colonel and currently a Department of the Air Force civilian with the 11th Wing Bolling.

"I never dreamed I'd be doing this job again as a civilian," said Mr. Ophof, the 11th Wing's deputy director of staff and chief of the Air Force Inauguration Liaison Office at Bolling. "This is the third inaugural I've been through at Bolling and I had this job in 1997. Because of September 11 and the creation of the Joint Task Force headquarters, the planning process is far more complex than in the previous inaugurals. Planning for the force protection has greatly complicated the process, but for all the right reasons. In my personal opinion, the Air Force has led the way in achieving its manning and equipment taskings ... and I am extremely pleased with and proud of all Air Force elements participating."