[1]WASHINGTON (BP)–There will be plenty of Southern Baptists on hand to view the inauguration of President-elect George W. Bush and a good number of them will be representing Hardin-Simmons University.
The Baptist-affiliated university’s Cowboy Band and Six White Horses riders have been invited to be a part of the Jan. 20 inaugural ceremonies and inaugural parade.
“We are really looking forward to this great opportunity,” said Don Hanna, director of the Cowboy Band at the Abilene, Texas, university. “Our students have worked very hard to prepare for this national event. We are just honored to be representing our school and state in the parade.”
The HSU musicians and White Horses riders will be one of six musical groups from Texas to be part of the inaugural ceremonies.
The HSU delegation was expected to arrive in Washington on Thursday, Jan. 18.
They will be given special tours of the White House, the Smithsonian, the Jefferson and Franklin D. Roosevelt memorials.
[2]On Saturday, immediately following the inauguration, the band members will be honored at a “chili feed” sponsored by Texas Congressman Charles Stenholm.
This marks the sixth time the Cowboy band has played at an inaugural for the president of the United States.
Earlier trips to Washington were for the inaugurations of Presidents Herbert Hoover, 1929; Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1941; Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953; Richard M. Nixon, 1969; and Jimmy Carter, 1977.
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