Today, for the Presidential Inauguration, I’m sitting at home in jeans and a t-shirt, watching the official United States Peaceful transition of power. The shirt I’m wearing is from Colonial Williamsburg and says “Liberty: noun. Freedom. The state of being free within a society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views. ‘Individuals should enjoy the liberty to pursue their own interests and preferences.’” It’s interesting to watch the full day’s events after participating in the 2013 and 2017 Inaugurations and then watching a significantly scaled-down Inauguration in 2021. This is my first opportunity to watch a full Presidential Inauguration since I joined the Army in 2008.
In 2009, as President Obama took the Presidential Oath of Office, I was at the National Training Center preparing for a deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom a few months later. For the subsequent two inaugurations (2013 and 2017), I had the honor and privilege of being part of the inner cordon at the corner of 15th Street NW and Constitution Ave NW for both President Obama’s second inauguration and President Trump’s first inauguration. The scale of the 2021 Inauguration was much smaller
You might be asking, what’s the inner cordon? The US Military Honor Guard from each service line the route the motorcade follows from the Capitol to the White House. The honor guard is not there to guard the president or enforce security at the inauguration but solely to show honor to the outgoing and incoming presidents. The Servicemembers along the parade route show respect and submission to the current president (the outgoing president before noon on January 20th and the new president after the new president takes the oath of office). Due to the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, the federal government was limited in using the federal military to enforce domestic policies within the United States.
I’ll spare you the details on the timeline for those on the cordon during the days leading up to the inauguration, which included rehearsals, security checks, meals, and the official timeline (If you think airborne timelines and division run timelines are bad, you should try that timeline!) I loved the opportunity to recognize the peaceful transition of power as I saluted President Obama twice in 2013, then saluted President Obama and President Trump in 2017.
My purpose in writing this is: whether you support the outgoing or incoming president, we each have the responsibility to recognize the President as our leader. We have the ability to decide a new President as a nation every four years, but today, we come together. We take the time to recognize the peaceful transition of power. In 2017, I attended the rally that President Trump hosted on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial the evening before his inauguration. As he entered, those attending were chanting “Trump, Trump, Trump” (which I admit made me a bit uncomfortable, as our nation is not about a person but about the Constitution). As the President-elect came out, he moved his knife hand across his throat, asking people to stop, then started mouthing, “USA, USA…” The crowd joined in, recognizing that it was not about the person but our country.
Paul instructs Timothy in 1 Tim. 2:1-4 the following: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Both Daniel 2:21 and John 19:11 tell us that God removes and sets up kings. The combination of these three passages reminds us that while we face leaders, that may not be what we want. We have the responsibility to pray for our leaders and honor them. We are responsible for recognizing that our ultimate authority rests not in the person in the White House or any other leadership office around the world. Franklin Graham cited Daniel 2:20, which states, “Praise be to the Name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are His.”
I’d askthat you take some time to pray for President Trump, VP Vance, and their families, whether you agree with our new administration or not. Ask that God grant them wisdom and a clear understanding of what they should focus on these next four years. As both inaugural parades passed me in 2013 and 2017 that I did the same.
Please, as a nation, let’s pull together. We might have different views, but that’s part of what makes us great. We have the opportunity to continue as the greatest country ever, but, as Franklin Graham stated, “America can never be great again if we turn our backs on God.”