Virginia Military Institute cadets are used to getting up early.
But on Monday morning, they woke up to march 2 miles down Pennsylvania Avenue, for the Inaugural Parade.
Colonel Keith Gibson is the Museum Director at VMI. He also got the honor of marching in the 1977 parade honoring the Inauguration of President Jimmy Carter.
Gibson explains what he remembers, "All the sudden you're there, you see the White House, you see the president’s family and you realize you are stepping into this page of history."
For the past week, it's been nothing but practice.
Cadets say it was cold as they practiced in the rain, snow, and mud.
Alex Sharp is the drum major. He says the cadets will play the VMI Spirit and the Shenandoah. For the Shenandoah they will play with both pipe band and the VMI band.
Melissa Gaona
-------
In just two days, President Barack Obama will be sworn in again to begin his second term as the 44th president of The United States. But the festivities start on Monday with the 57th Inaugural Parade and some talented cadets from The Virginia Military Institute get to be a part of it.
VMI is no stranger to Inaugural events, in fact their inaugural parade debut was during the Taft Administration back in 1909, and the present day cadets are ready to keep that legacy alive.
In just a matter of days, these stoic and dedicated cadets will be marching and performing for their Commander in Chief at the 57th Inaguural Parade.
"I feel honored, you know it's a pretty big being a part of a very heated presidential debate and then seeing it come to the end and being involved," said Russell East, VMI Regimental Captain.
Humbled and excited for this once in a lifetime honor, these young men and women are proud and ready.
"We have marched before in different parades around town and in Virginia but nothing, I guess on the national level and for the president. It's a huge honor," Jessica Snead explained. She's a cadet. So is Alex Adkins, who told us, "Regardless of politics, it's great to see any commander-in-chief Democrat, Republica or other and to march in front of them as the commander in chief, it's absolutely fantastic."
For band leader Colonol John Brody, Monday's parade will be his 5th but he has a sense of great pride as he watches, this new batallion ready itself to take the reigns as they represent VMI's long history now and in the future.
"It's always a thrill because it's a historic moment for the cadets and it's very flattering to be able to take the cadets up to DC I hope the cadets are able to remember this for years to come and look back on it as part of their cadetship," Brody said.
These cadets are ready for their trip down Pennsylvania Avenue.
1,500 cadets will make the trip to Washington on Monday. This will be the 14th time the cadets will be a part of the Inaugural Parade.
Nadia Singh
