Central IMT Assisting NCR With Inauguration Planning

On Tuesday, December 9th, Peggy O’Dell, National Capitol Region regional director, briefed superintendents and staff on developing plans for the Presidential inauguration scheduled for Tuesday, January 20th.  The noon swearing-in ceremony will be held on the steps of the Capitol with public viewing available from the National Mall.  Later, the inaugural parade will traverse Pennsylvania Avenue, intersecting NPS lands at various points.  On Sunday, January 18th, an opening ceremony will be held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  Final planning for all the events is dependent upon the requests of the Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC, www.pic2009.com) and a subsequent special use permit that will be issued for use of NPS lands.  NCR interpretive staff, under the direction of Kirsten Talken-Spaulding, have been tasked to develop an interpretive plan featuring inaugural-related activities and visitor services.  John Stanwich, NCR inaugural coordinator, with assistance from Rick Merryman and Leonard Lee, are NPS liaisons with the PIC.  O’Dell also introduced the NPS Central Incident Management Team (CIMT), headed by Eddie Lopez, which will assist the region and parks with event planning.  The regional director and acting assistant chief of the US Park Police have signed a delegation of authority to Stanwich, Merryman, Lee, Lopez and Park Police major Jonathan Pierce, directing them to plan and manage the NPS portion of the 2009 inauguration.  Members of the CIMT arrived Wednesday, December 3rd, and some members will be on-site through the holidays, then will gear up with a full team in early January.  Additional inauguration information will be shared through this site as plans develop.