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Dozens of Valley residents attend inauguration
WASHINGTON
Mary Theis of Howland was so overcome with emotion during President Donald Trump’s inaugural address that she “had tears in my eyes.”
Theis, who served as Trumbull County chairwoman of Women for Trump, was among the dozens of Mahoning Valley residents to travel to Washington, D.C., for Friday’s event.
“I felt such a part of history,” she said shortly after the swearing-in ceremony. “I was really thrilled. It was a wonderful and very moving experience.”
Theis was part of a group of Trump supporters from Trumbull County who made the trip to D.C. The group got to the inaugural site around 8 a.m. and found seating shortly thereafter.
Tracey Winbush of Youngstown, who was chairwoman of Trump’s campaign in Mahoning County, said of the president’s address: “It’s a new day. We’re going to give America back to the people and put them first. The government isn’t just for Republicans or just for Democrats. It’s for all citizens of America. People need to take ownership of the country that God has given them.”
Winbush, who was attending her third inaugural, said, “Every American should attend at least one inauguration. It’s not like a rally or another political event. It’s not like anything else you’ve ever been at. I’m very happy I went.”
Hannah Emerson, a Lordstown High School senior who attended Friday’s swearing-in ceremony as part of the school’s political history club, said, “It was awesome and a memorable experience. I’ve supported Donald Trump since the beginning, and it was great to see my hard work pay off. People wanted him to speak of inclusion and how he wants all Americans to succeed. That’s what he did. We are stronger together.”
Seventeen students from the club along with 10 adult chaperones made the trip to D.C. to see the swearing-in ceremony.
The group left its hotel about 3:30 a.m. and made it to the inaugural location about 5 a.m., said Terry Armstrong, Lordstown schools superintendent and a chaperone. The gates opened at 6:30, and they stood through the ceremony, which lasted until about 12:45 p.m.
“The kids were fantastic,” Armstrong said. “They were very engaged and very interested.”
Addison Wilson, a Lordstown sophomore, said: “It was amazing to get to watch the inauguration in person and see all the different factors that go into the ceremony as a whole. We stood for a long time, but it was worth it. Overall, it was a great experience.”
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, who attended his fourth presidential swearing-in ceremony, said: “President Donald Trump has taken office at a time of great uncertainty and division within our country and around the world. I opposed his candidacy. But [Friday], Donald Trump [became] the president of the United States – and he will serve all those who live in our country, not just those who supported him.”
Ryan said he hopes Trump will work with both political parties “to truly improve the lives of hard-working American families. Where he makes an honest effort to do so, I’ll be waiting to work together towards those aims to the best of my ability. And if, or when, he decides to divide, denigrate, or disenfranchise groups of our fellow Americans, I will be the first one standing ready to fight those efforts.”
U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Marietta, R-6th, attending his second presidential swearing-in ceremony, said Trump’s inaugural address was “an inspiring, uplifting vision for America’s future,” and that he looks forward to working with the new president to “re-energize our economy at home and reassert America’s leadership abroad.”
Johnson acknowledged the election was “contentious,” but Trump will be “a leader for all Americans” and “not just those who voted for him.”
Johnson added: “Our new president, working with both the House and Senate, has an historic opportunity to really lead and make positive, lasting changes for the American people. I’m hopeful that President Trump doesn’t view Congress as an inconvenient obstacle because we are ready for the hard work of governing, and I believe that he is as well.”
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from the Cincinnati area who’s attended every presidential inauguration since 1988, congratulated Trump and said he looked “forward to working with the new administration on a whole range of issues from getting our economy moving and easing the middle-class squeeze to turning the tide on the epidemic of drug addiction, to restoring America’s leadership role in the world by rebuilding our military. In order to make progress on these issues, we must work together to address the challenges facing our country. If we do that, we can deliver results and make a real difference in the lives of Ohioans and all Americans.”
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, was “pleased to hear President Trump reiterate his commitment to ‘Buy America’ rules in any upcoming infrastructure investment, and Sen. Brown looks forward to working with President Trump to make Buy America a priority in the first 100 days,” said Jennifer Donohue, a spokeswoman for the senator.