Local inauguration attendees find positives after getting shut out of ceremony
by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor
Landing one of 240,000 free inaugural tickets was like winning the lottery. But on a day when police and security officials were dealing with nearly 2 million people, the ticket wasn’t a great deal for some people. __ Casey Viegelahn and Dennis Atchabowski of Rogers City couldn’t get into the ticketed area with their purple ticket, which allows admission to the area in front of the U.S. Capitol. They made it to the gate, but weren?t allowed in.
Viegelahn originally received a ticket from representatives of the Democratic Party in Alpena. Atchabowski went with him to D.C. to see if they could get another ticket at U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak?s office, arriving the day before the inauguration ceremony. When they got there, a quarter-of-a-mile long line wrapped around the Rayburn House on Constitution Avenue, where Stupak?s office is located. Eventually, they spoke with the congressman and received tickets for the silver seating area. ?One of the staff workers said we need to get there between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.,? said Viegelahn. The gate opened at 9 a.m. ?Dennis and I ended up getting there about 7 a.m. in the morning, and that wasn?t even early enough. It was chaos.? Thousands of people with blue or purple tickets were blocked from entering because too many tickets were distributed, entry procedures were bogged down and security officials were overwhelmed with crowds. _ The gate was closed and the Rogers City men never got to the National Mall. They listened to the swearing in ceremony and speech on cell phones and radios people held up in the air.
?DISAPPOINTED, OF course who wouldn’t be?? said Atchabowski. ?To stand in line in that frigid weather and to be denied access stands for itself. On a positive note, we did (Casey and I) witness the 21-gun salute that the majority only heard. We then made a move up Constitution where we had a line of site on the inaugural events and watched from there. Like anything else, one must find the silver lining.? They also watched Marine One take fly away from the nation?s capital, with now former President George W. Bush aboard, and waited for the inaugural parade to begin. ?The parade was excellent,? said Atchabowski. ?To watch the President/Vice President drive past was the highlight for me. That will probably be the closest I will come to a president in my life.? Further down the parade route, President Obama and his wife got out of their limo and started walking and waving to the crowd, but that was well after they had passed Atchabowski and Viegelahn. Both were astounded at the degre
LATER THAT night, the two attended the Michigan Inaugural dinner dance at the National Museum of American History. ?During the ball we had the pleasure of speaking with Congressman Bart Stupak, Representative Andy Neumann, and we even ran into some people from the Wolverine Power Cooperative,? said Viegelahn. ?Everyone we came in contact with took the time to have an unrushed conversation.? Gov Jennifer Granholm gave a brief speech and Motown Bands provided entertainment.
?All in all it was an unbelievable experience,? said Viegelahn. ?Going from seeing most of our elected officials on television and all business to seeing them open up, have fun, and take time to talk to everyone was something very special.? Viegelahn, who ran for state representative last year, has received one of 24 fellowships in Michigan State University?s 2009 Michigan Political Leadership Program, which is designed for future political leaders. He?ll be attending classes once a month for 10 months. The first weekend session is February 20-21. Next time he goes to Washington, Viegelahn may not need a ticket, he might just be the person giving them out.