(The Root) — The Presidential Inaugural Committee has announced the first wave of organizations that have accepted invitations to participate in the parade in honor of President Obama's second inaugural, and we're not a bit surprised to see that it's a group as diverse as the nation he'll represent for another four years.
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On deck so far: the Navajo Nation Band, Balou Senior High School (a predominantly African-American high school in Washington, D.C.), the Military Spouses of Michigan, the Little Rock Central High School Marching Band (from the school integrated by the Little Rock 9) and even the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, just to name a few. Plus, an LGBT group — St. Louis, Mo.'s Lesbian and Gay Band Association — will march the historic route for the first time in history.
"The talented groups chosen to participate in the Inaugural Parade reflect the spirit, values and diversity of our great nation," said President Obama. "Vice President Biden and I are honored to have them join us in the parade."
Here's the full list:
54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts
54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment Company B Silver Spring, Md.
A Therapeutic Equine Assisted Self-Confidence Experience (ATEASE) Cottage Grove, Wis.
Ballou Senior High School "Majestic" Marching Knights Washington, D.C.
Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps Boston
Canine Companions for Independence Fauquier County, Va.
Georgia State University Marching Band Atlanta
Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission Awendaw, S.C.
Isiserettes Drill & Drum Corp Des Moines, Iowa
Jackson Memorial Jaguar Band Jackson Memorial High School Bradley Beach, N.J.
Kamehameha Schools Warrior Marching Band Honolulu
Lesbian and Gay Band Association St. Louis, Mo.
Letcher County Central Marching Band Letcher County Central High School Whitesburg, Ky.
Little Rock Central High School Marching Band Little Rock, Ark.
Miami University Marching Band Oxford, Ohio
Military Spouses of Michigan Michigan
Native American Women Warriors Billings, Mont.
Navajo Nation Band Window Rock, Ariz.
Palmview High School Mariachi and Folkloric Group Mission, Texas
South Shore Drill Team Chicago
The Northern State University Wolves’ Marching Band Aberdeen, S.D.
United War Veterans Council New York City
University of Maryland Marching Band College Park, Md.
Virginia Military Institute Marching Unit Lexington, Va.
The parade will take place on Jan. 21, 2013.
Read more and check for updates at the PIC's parade website.
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