Highlands Residents Heading For Obama Inauguration

A few of us will break out our red, white and blue napkins, bundle up in our toasty polar jackets and Tyvex boots, surround ourselves with Barack and Michelle Obama action figures, and just pretend we're in Washington, D.C., for the Jan. 20 inauguration.

Tonya Marshall's actually going to be there.

"We're taking a car," she said, with her daughter Lauren, two teenaged friends and one more adult.

Pat Henderson, Davette Thompson and at least two more Highlands County citizens will take a bus from Winter Haven, said Robert Saffold.

And Saffold is chairing a committee that is planning a formal inauguration dinner at the Quality Inn on the Tuesday night when Barack Obama is sworn in.

"This is one of the most exciting dinners for the people of Highlands County that we have ever participated in," Saffold said.

On Tuesday night, the committee talked about a cocktail hour, scheduling a guitarist, church choirs, dancers, a commemorative program and a big-screen DVD replay of the event and Obama's speech.

Both the Rosa Parks Community Coalition and the New Washington Heights Concerned Citizens groups are working on the ball at the Quality Inn, but Saffold said it's for everyone.

"This is an American thing we're talking about," Saffold said.

As for Marshall, she's helping with the Highlands County preparations, but she's thinking about which day she'll start on her 940-mile trek from Avon Park to Washington.

"I want to see it all the way through," said Marshall. "I've helped out with the campaigning. I've done so much. We did the rallies, we helped with the canvassing, making sure people were ready to vote, early voting, transporting to the polls."

And on Election Day, that was Marshall, Lauren and their friends who were out on U.S. 27, between Wal-Mart and Ruby Tuesday, waving Obama signs.

"The one regret that I do have, was that I didn't start earlier," Marshall said.

It was the same for her daughter. In the very beginning, Marshall said, "I had to drag her. Then her friends got interested. Then she saw how their participation affected the election."

But why go to D.C.? They could see more on television, friends have pointed out.

"That's OK. I know it's gonna be cold. I know we're not going to get that close. I know we could save money by staying at home, and I do need it. But this is historic. It's educational. But we want to be part of history. My daughter is really into the politics thing now. I'm off on the weekend. Maybe we'll go up a few days earlier."

About 100 tickets have already been sold for the Quality Inn event, Saffold said. Capacity for the event will be about 250.

Tickets are $30 each, and tables for eight are $240. More info: Tonya Marshall, 452-2860 or 201-3435; Pat Henderson, 382-6694; Robert Saffold, 381-5166; Billy Shannon, 214-6420.