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 curtailed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the inaugural committee said on Sunday.
After taking an oath 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 armed forces, according to the committee. Biden is expected to analyze the readiness of the troops and will then be escorted from 15th Street to the White House by military personnel.
With the coronavirus still present throughout the country, the inauguration committee will hold a virtual parade instead of the traditional parade and face-to-face balls. The planned schedule is expected to feature Americans from across the country, along with musical acts, local bands and poets to honor frontline workers during the pandemic.
“There are many great traditions in possession and we plan to honor them by making the people of our nation stand out more than ever, while keeping everyone safe,” said Tony Allen, chief executive of the inaugural committee, in a statement.
The committee said earlier this week that it would hold a memorial on January 19, before the inauguration, to commemorate those who lost their lives to Covid-19. The memorial service in Washington, DC, will feature lighting around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The inaugural committee also told people not to attend the inaugural activities and hired a chief medical advisor, Dr. David Kessler, to help plan the event based on health safety protocols.
Biden’s inaugural committee is accepting donations of up to $ 500,000 from individuals and up to $ 1 million from corporations to fund the event, but said it would ban donations from lobbyists and the oil and gas industry.
Donors were informed earlier this month about the planned benefits associated with the inauguration.
For example, if an individual gives $ 500,000 or packs $ 1 million for the opening, the person would be invited to virtual events with Biden and Harris and their spouses, according to a document reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
The person would also receive “preferred viewing” for the virtual opening, included in a virtual concert during the opening week, invited to virtual briefings with Biden’s leadership and receive VIP tickets to a future face-to-face event.
Copyright © 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Published in the print edition of January 4, 2021 as ‘Inaugural to present a virtual parade’.