Michigan groups headed to D.C. to participate in inauguration
Michigan participants in this year’s presidential inaugural festivities will carry the excitement and honor of being an active witness to history later this week.
But they’ll also bring a variety of accessories with them to Washington, D.C., to mark the day — Friday — when Republican President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office for the highest job in the land — President of the United States.
Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, pastor of Great Faith Ministries International in Detroit, will bring the words and spirit of God when he gives the benediction at the swearing-in ceremony.
Debbie Donner Dunphy, will bring her stock horse Electra Illusion, also known as Zap, with her as she leads the Mid America Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team from New Buffalo in southwest Michigan, through their paces along the inaugural parade route between the U.S. Capitol and the White House.
And Penny Filonczuk will bring the baton she uses to direct the Everett High School Viking marching band, whose 47 members will play near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Thursday afternoon to help kick off the inauguration activities.
Read more:
Music louder than politics for Lansing marching band members
Michigan buses sell out on routes to women's march, inauguration
Pussyhat Project has hot pink yarn flying off Michigan shelves
“We’re terribly excited,” Filonczuk said. “We’re a really small band, so I didn’t have high hopes of getting accepted, A lot of our kids don’t get the opportunity to travel out of state very much, so we think it will mean a lot to them.”
The Lansing band only gets five minutes to perform as one of 14 groups performing at the Voice of the People celebration. But they’ll use the time to play a medley of popular favorites: “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars, “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” by George Cohan.
In addition to the performance, the group plans to take in the sights of the nation's Capitol, including a tour of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, a walking tour of the monuments and laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
Filonczuk has gotten some push back from the community — which voted overwhelmingly for Democrat Hillary Clinton for president — on social media and in letters, and three band members have declined to go to the inauguration.
“But it wasn’t so much about politics, as parents concerned about the safety of their kids,” she said. “The majority of people are taking the high road. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Democrat or Republican, it doesn’t matter, that’s been the consensus.”
That has been the case for Donner Dunphy and her cowgirls rodeo drill team, too.
“I’m excited beyond belief. My stomach just turns when I think about it,” she said. “I asked people in the community whether we should apply and I got a good response. It’s not political, it’s American.”
Sixteen of the 25 riders and their Arabian, quarter and American Paints horses will participate in the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, riding four deep in full cowgirl regalia.
The riders range in age from 10 to 60, and have been riding competitively since 2007.
It will be a routine affair for the Michigan Multi-Jurisdictional Mounted Police Drill Team & Color Guard, a group of law enforcement officers from all across the state, but who are based in Ann Arbor. They also participated in the inaugural parade for President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.
But for Bishop Jackson — who routinely speaks to hundreds of parishioners at his church in Detroit, and hundreds of thousands through his evangelical television show — the chance to sit on stage with the newly inaugurated President Trump, who visited his church in September, and four previous presidents is a bit unnerving.
“I’ve been very prayerful in the last several weeks. This will be viewed by millions in our nation, and all over the world,” he said. “To see the emotions and feelings of everyone who will be watching, I’m definitely trying to make sure whatever I have to say that I have the words of the spirit of God in my mouth when I speak.
“But I never imagined that in my lifetime that I would be doing something like this,” he said, adding that he hopes to hear Trump talk about unity, “And his commitment to the African-American community and making this country great again.”
The Everett High School Band is still raising money to help pay for the trip to the inauguration and is about halfway to a $36,000 goal. To help the band, go to www.tinyurl.com/EverettMB-Donate.
Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal