As many as 4 million visitors are expected to be on hand when President-elect Barack Obama takes the noontime oath from Chief Justice John Roberts on the steps of the Capitol on Jan. 20, 2009. The program is to feature poet Elizabeth Alexander; the U.S. Marine and Navy bands; and the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Click through to see else will be performing.
Chosen to deliver the invocation at the Inaugural Program is Pastor Rick Warren, shown with then Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama. Gay rights advocates have written to the President-elect, asking him to reconsider his choice, charging that Warren has been "one of the architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda," saying Warren's opposition to gay marriage is a sign of intolerance.
Aretha Franklin performs during the 85th annual Christmas tree lighting at the New York Stock Exchange in New York. The "Queen of Soul" is among the greats chosen to perform at the 56th Presidential Inauguration, which takes place on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2009.
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma gets ready to play at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. Violinist Itzhak Perlman, pianist Gabriela Montero and clarinetist Anthony McGill will join Ma for a new work composed by John Williams for the program.
Violinist Itzhak Perlman was among the Kennedy Center Honorees of 2003. On Jan. 20, 2009, he will be join cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Gabriela Montero and clarinet player Anthony McGill to perform an original composition by John Williams to celebrate the 56th inaugural.
From "Jaws" to "Star Wars" to "Jurassic Park" and now, Barack Obama's inauguration. John Williams, the same composer who wrote the themes to these movies, has written a piece that'll premiere at the Obama/Biden inauguration. The Oscar winner is well known for his fanfare and celebration pieces.
Elizabeth Alexander, a poet, essayist, playwright, author and teacher, has been chosen to be the third poet ever to take part in an inaugural program. John F. Kennedy was the first American president to include a poet in his inauguration, choosing Robert Frost; Bill Clinton was the second, choosing Maya Angelou.
The Rev. Joseph Lowery, 87, is considered the dean of the civil rights movement. For the benediction at the Jan. 20, 2009, swearing-in, he says he will pray that the "spirit of fellowship and oneness" at the inauguration endures throughout Obama's presidency.
The 40-by-40 foot map used to plan the movements for military units involved in the presidential Inauguration is on display in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008. More than 11,000 U.S. troops will be watching over inauguration ceremonies in case of an attack during President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in on Jan. 20.