LOCAL STUDENTS TO PLAY IN INAUGURAL PARADE

Two area college students will be among more than 10,000 people participating in official inaugural activities this weekend in Washington, D.C.

Mary Bono of Jackson and Michelle Hopen of Cape Girardeau traveled to the nation's capitol Tuesday with the University of Missouri-Columbia Marching Mizzou band, which will represent the state Saturday in an inaugural parade honoring President-elect George W. Bush and Vice President-elect Dick Cheney.

Hopen, a sophomore saxophone player, is the daughter of Mike and Elaine Hopen of Cape Girardeau. Bono, a freshman mellophone player, is the daughter of Jim Bono of Jackson and Karen Pruesser of Pocahontas.

The 54th Presidential Inaugural Schedule of Events began Thursday with an opening program, and continues today with a variety of official programs, concerts and balls recognizing interest groups, including youth and veterans.

Official swearing-in ceremonies will begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. There will be church services on both Saturday and Sunday, nine official inaugural balls and the parade, which begins at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Hopen and Bono learned of the band's invitation to perform in the parade while still on Christmas vacation two weeks ago. They returned to Columbia over the weekend for two days' of practices prior to the band's departure.

"She had gotten such short notice of when she was going that she really didn't have time to prepare," said Jim Bono. "It's a once in a lifetime college memory that she'll always have."

The inaugural parade has been a tradition since Thomas Jefferson's second inaugural March 4, 1805. According to The 54th Presidential Inaugural Official Guidebook, Jefferson mounted his horse after taking the oath of office at the Capitol, and rode back to the White House, "followed by a large assemblage of members of the Legislature, citizens, and strangers of distinction."

Later presidents continued the custom, and the inaugural parade has been a standard event ever since. Every state is represented in the parade, which symbolizes unification under the new president.

I've probably never watched a presidential inauguration, but I will watch this one," said Mike Hopen. He said he'll be looking for his daughter in the crowds.