The inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden will include a virtual parade as part of a series of events on January 20 that have been cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, the inaugural committee said Sunday.
After being invested on the west side of the Capitol, Mr. Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and their spouses will participate in Pass in Review, a military tradition that reflects the peaceful transfer of power and will include all branches of the military. , according to the committee. Mr Biden is expected to review the preparation of troops and will then be escorted from 15th Street to the White House by the military.
As the coronavirus still lasts nationwide, the inaugural committee will hold a virtual parade instead of the traditional in-person parade and balls. The planned lineup is expected to include Americans from across the country along with musical acts, local bands and poets to pay tribute to front-line workers during the pandemic.
“There are many great traditions at the inauguration and we plan to honor them by highlighting more of the people of our nation than ever before, keeping everyone safe,” Tony Allen, chief executive of the inaugural committee, said in a statement.
The committee said earlier this week that it would hold a memorial on Jan. 19, ahead of the inauguration, to remember those who lost their lives in Covid-19. The memorial service in Washington, DC, will feature lighting around the Lincoln Memorial’s reflective pool.
The inaugural committee has also told people not to attend the inaugural activities and has hired a chief medical adviser, Dr. David Kessler, to help plan the event based on health safety protocols.
The inaugural committee of Mr. Biden accepts donations of up to $ 500,000 from individuals and up to $ 1 million from companies to fund the event, but has said he would ban donations from lobbyists and the oil and gas industry.
Earlier this month, donors were informed of their expected benefits associated with the inauguration.
For example, if a person donates $ 500,000 or includes $ 1 million for the inauguration, the person would be invited to virtual events with Mr. Biden and Mrs. Harris and their spouses, according to a document reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
The person would also be granted the “preferred view” for the virtual opening, included in a virtual concert during the opening week, invited to virtual briefings with Biden’s leadership, and would be given VIP tickets for a future face-to-face event.
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It appeared on January 4, 2021, print edition as “Inaugural To Feature A Virtual Parade.”