Northern suburbs well represented at inauguration

David Holcomb, of Ben Avon, marched in the inaugural parade as part of a 200-member American Workers Contingent.

"There was something great about walking past the reviewing stand and waving at the Bidens and the Obamas and having them wave back," he said.
"I thought the stand would be elevated and at a distance, but they were all right down close to the street ... and it was really touching."

Mr. Holcomb is production manager at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama and participated as a member of United Scenic Artists union, Local 829.

Traveling by bus from the Pentagon staging area to the start of the parade route took him and his fellow marchers through part of a crowd that filled the length of the National Mall between the Capitol and the Washington Monument.

"There is this one little street that goes through the middle of the mall, and we were crossing it just as Obama was taking the oath of office. We looked out and there were thousands and thousands and thousands of people gathered for the event and it was breathtaking."

Mr. Holcomb also was impressed by the instant comradeship among the marchers in his group. "I went down there not knowing a soul and met up with a wonderful group of people who were all there for the same reasons: to share in the moment and the history and the excitement."

Full article from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette