Commander-in-Chief's Ball Salute to Troops

Commander-in-Chief's Ball Salute to Troops
Jan 21, 2013
President Obama addressed the attendees at his first ball of the night, the Commander-in-Chief's Ball, then shared a dance with his wife Michelle Obama to a performance by Jennifer Hudson. The couple also let two military service-people cut in for a dance.

Local soldier picked to attend inaugural ball
By SHELLEY TERRY
Star Beacon
January 21, 2013

An Ashtabula soldier was among those with a front-row seat at the inaugural festivities Monday.

Army Sgt. Jonathan Roberts, 32, was one of two soldiers stationed in Fort Meade, who attended the Commander-in-Chief Ball at Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Roberts said he knows it’s a great and rare honor to represent the U.S. Army.
read more here

Tuskegee Airmen Honored Guests at Inaugural
Jan 21, 2013
Associated Press
by Larry Margasak

WASHINGTON - They sat in wheelchairs as honored guests at President Barack Obama's second inaugural, attended to almost minute-by-minute by active duty members of the military. For these Tuskegee Airmen, members of the famed all-black unit of World War II and several years beyond, the tables surely turned.

From the terrace of the Capitol, they watched an African-American president being sworn in for his second term. And they were cared for reverently by many whites in uniform, who more than six decades ago would have had no contact with these two dozen veterans now sitting with green Army blankets across their laps. Several of them said they were at Obama's first inaugural but were just as excited to attend his second.
read more here