Big doings on Sunday

I was up way too early yesterday -- but for a good cause -- watching local Marines from Quantico rehearse for next week's inaugural parade.
The alarm went off at 5:15 a.m., and it was about 27 degrees outside when I headed out the door at 6 a.m. to make the trek to D.C. and the Freedom Plaza near Pennsylvania Avenue.
There was plenty of media on hand by the time I arrived at 7:15 a.m. The service members who were portraying President-elect Obama and his family, and Vice President-elect Biden and his family, were already rehearsing the swearing in ceremony. The Army Staff Sergeant who was standing in for Obama gave the shortest inaugural address in history: "Thank you and God Bless America," which drew applause from the audience.
Then it was time to practice the parade. About 3,000 members of the Armed Forces and some civilian groups marched down Pennsylvania Avenue for their only dress rehearsal in advance of next Tuesday. Having only watched inaugurals on television it was quite a rush to follow the marchers along the route, which passed by the White House. It drove home one of the many things that makes our country great: Every 4 or 8 years, we have a peaceful change of power. And that's what was on display Sunday.