WASHINGTON, D.C. - About two million people were in the nation's capitol on Jan. 20 to witness history, including an Illinois Air National Guardsmen from Macomb, who embraced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to march in the Inauguration Day Parade.
Tech. Sgt. Doug Mattsey, a member of the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria and tuba player for the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest, was part of the U.S. Air Force Band marching about two miles in downtown Washington D.C in front of millions of people.
"It's really neat to be part of this monumental step for our country," said Mattsey. "We are hurdling over racial divides, and I think that is why this year's inauguration is such a popular event."
Mattsey, a full-time band director for Macomb, Ill., Junior High School, volunteered to play his tuba during the parade. He represented the Illinois Air National Guard performing with bands from all five branches of the armed forces. A majority of the performers were from military groups across the nation's capitol.
The Macomb resident spent a week here in Washington, D.C., practicing with the band and returned home briefly last week to see his family and the students in his class.
Mattsey said his students were ecstatic about his opportunity and asked a lot of questions.
"They were really excited," he said. "Some of them have never left their hometown, let alone left the state or flown anywhere."
The Macomb school teacher flew back on Jan. 19 and was in the U.S. Capitol as the historic day got underway.
"It was a mess," Mattsey joked. "Everywhere you looked there were city buses and tour buses. It was absolutely amazing. There were walls of people everywhere. You just cannot imagine how many people were there."
Mattsey performed at both of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's inaugurations as part of the Illinois Air National Guard band, but said he cannot compare those experiences to this.
"It's an entirely different animal," he said. "The security was not to this scale. They are overly, overly cautious and for good reason."
Mattsey began his military career with the Air Force band in 1996 while he was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. In 2000, he moved back to Illinois with his young family and joined the Illinois Air National Guard.
Mattsey said his three kids, ages 10, 7, and 3, were really excited about the unique opportunity.
"They thought it was really cool," he said. "My 10-year old boy is a bookworm and knows his history. He has been building different things such as the Washington Monument with his legos. They are all really proud of me."
Mattsey said it was a pleasure just to be part of this historic event and be able to march the parade route in uniform honoring the new president.
"It was a huge honor," he said. "I am very privileged to be here and be able to be part of this."