Digital News Report- President Obama was escorted to his new presidential limo, which has been dubbed “The Beast” by the United States Secret Service. The vehicle has been described as a Cadillac that thinks it’s a tank. It features armor-plated doors, a five-inch thick steel plate underneath, and shred and puncture resistant tires among many other safety measures.
The parade rolled along its route, which was lined with hundreds of thousands of onlookers separated from the President’s vehicle by a row of uniformed officers and security personnel. Secret Service Agents flanked the vehicle as it traveled down the route from Capitol Hill to the White House.
The parade featured 15,000 people, 240 horses, dozens of marching bands, two drum and bugle corps, and one mariachi band from New Mexico. Every state was represented by something in the parade, including the Punahou School marching band from Obama’s high school in his home state of Hawaii. The parade also featured the Rosa Parks bus, which she was riding on before her famous arrest in 1955.
As is tradition, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama exited the vehicle to walk along the route. The crowds cheered enthusiastically as they walked along Pennsylvania Avenue for several minutes. They got back into the vehicle shortly afterwards, but exited again to walk the last few blocks to the White House.