When Donald Trump is sworn in as president on Friday, a family from Wichita will be there.
Paul Vick and his wife, Ann, are taking their two teenage children to see the presidential inauguration ceremony and parade in Washington, D.C.
Vick says he has been supporting Trump since the caucus, and wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
"I think that bringing our kids to an inaugural event is a tremendous opportunity for them to get a worldview of a political event such as this," Vick says.
Vick is a retired FBI agent who attended his first presidential inauguration when he was stationed in the nation’s capitol more than 10 years ago.
This time around, he’s expecting increased security efforts and transportation issues but says that won’t dampen their excitement.
"Transportation is going to be difficult--getting from the hotel that we are going to be at to get to the events," Vick says. "So we’re just going to make it work."
The family will also attend the Faith, Freedom, and Future Inaugural Ball with a small group of people from Wichita.
Another Kansas connection, members of the Kansas National Guard, will be on hand to support inaugural activities.
About 74 soldiers from the Kansas Army National Guard and 70 Airmen from the Kansas Air National Guard will be providing assistance with parade queuing, medical standby, mobile kitchen, public affairs and other tasks.
More than 7,500 National Guard soldiers and airmen from 44 states, three territories and the District of Columbia will augment the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Capitol Police and D.C. Metropolitan Police forces on a range of support, including traffic control, crowd management, logistics and communication.
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