Today’s inauguration’s theme will be “A New Birth of Freedom,” chosen by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. It is designed to also celebrate the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and to invoke the spirit of Lincoln into the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.
Lincoln-related themes have been incorporated into the inaugural program, the committee said in a statement. The luncheon menu and décor are both in the style of Lincoln’s time. The menu includes seafood stew, pheasant, duck and apple cinnamon sponge cake.
Obama will also be sworn in using the same Bible Lincoln used to become the 16th president of the United States. Obama traveled to Washington, D.C. from Chicago following the same train route that Lincoln took to his inauguration.
Jed Layton