PILOT MOUNTAIN — The ranks of Surry County residents planning to attend the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump this Friday has increased by two.
“We’re going,” A.J. Daoud of Pilot Mountain said of himself and wife Angie, who will be in Washington to witness the historic moment when Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.
Although they had been invited to the noon event by an inauguration committee, the Daouds earlier thought they would be unable to attend because of the schedule at his business, Cox-Needham Funeral Home in Pilot Mountain.
Also planning to attend is a group from Mount Airy, including WorkForce Unlimited owner Teresa Lewis, a longtime Republican supporter; her husband Jim; Lewis’ son, Mike Brannock; and John and Kay Marcaccio.
The seven Mount Airy and Pilot Mountain residents are thought to be the only Surry Countians who will attend the Trump inauguration.
Daoud, also an active GOP member who is the party’s former Sixth District chairman, received VIP tickets to attend the inauguration with his wife. His employees served as drivers for the Trump-Mike Pence campaign during the candidates’ visits to North Carolina.
“We’re going to go up there Thursday night,” Daoud said. The festivities get under way at 9 a.m. Friday ahead of the inauguration ceremony at noon at the U.S. Capitol.
Daoud won’t exactly have a front-row seat for the occasion — but will be close.
“We get to be in a seating section,” he explained. “We’re not in the first section — it’s kind of like a concert — but we’re in the section right behind it, so we’ll be pretty near the front.”
The first section will be occupied by senators and representatives.
“We’re actually sitting in the section where the electors are,” Daoud said of those who officially select Trump as president in December through the Electoral College after the votes are cast by citizens in November.
Daoud, who previously attended the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, and his wife that of George W. Bush, is happy to be in a seated section.
“There’s over a million people standing,” he said, based on past inauguration turnouts.
The Pilot Mountain residents also are planning to take part in post-inauguration festivities, as is the group including Teresa Lewis.
Overall, three officially sanctioned balls are scheduled, the Freedom, Liberty and Commander In Chief balls, along with ones held by Republican parties of individual states.
The Daouds will be at the North Carolina Ball, but do not expect Trump to attend despite the Tar Heel State being one of the keys to his victory.
“He’s only going to two balls,” A.J. Daoud said.
The local man expects security in the nation’s capital to be extremely tight Friday morning and afternoon, and a well-organized event overall. “The coordination and everything is just incredible.”
Tom Joyce may be reached at 336-415-4693 or on Twitter @Me_Reporter.
