Diverse Inaugural Parade Takes Shape

(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.

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.