Michele Beckmann to attend Trump inauguration ceremony

At left, Monika Wachowiak, the District 3 leader for the Spokane GOP and Michele Beckmann, a member of the Washington State Republican Party board of directors, pause for a photo in front of the Capitol building where work crews are busy setting up for the inauguration. They also visited the Botanical Gardens, Native American Museum and Museum of Flight.

Crowds will pack the streets and be at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C. this weekend for the inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States. Notable names in attendance will be former presidents George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, along with Trump's Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton. The Rockettes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, among others, will perform. And Colfax's Michele Beckmann will be there to witness it all.

Beckmann, who is employed in the human resources office for Whitman County, traveled earlier this week to Washington, D.C., to attend events leading up to the inauguration and the inauguration itself.

“It's history. It's something I've always wanted to do, even when I was a kid,” said Beckmann, who is also a member of the Washington State Republican Party board of directors. “I was always glued to it and thinking, 'oh, how cool.'”

Beckmann learned Nov. 8, General Election day, that a friend was planning to attend the inauguration Jan. 20.

“I said, 'can I stay with you?'” Beckmann recalled.

Beckmann said the opportunity to attend the inauguration was made more exciting by watching the election returns.

“Watching the returns, it was one of those things where I hoped that all of the polls were correct,” she said. “It's kind of like holding your breath.”

Beckmann was able to secure tickets for the inauguration, as well as other inauguration-related events. She said she is excited for the opportunity to be there to witness a piece of history.

“I'm looking forward to the whole thing, the pomp and circumstance, and going to a lot of the monuments and things and doing tourist things,” she said ahead of her departure. “Just being there to celebrate a part of history and hear all of what happens in person.”

Beckmann said she traveled to Washington, D.C., as a kid, and she is now looking forward to being back there. She has plans to see several monuments, including the Vietnam Wall and Korean War Memorial.

“I'll probably have numb legs just from walking,” she said.

Beckmann said Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers has invited constituents to events scheduled by Congress.

Included on that list are the All American Inaugural Ball Jan. 19 and the Best of the West Inaugural Reception Jan. 21.