Journalist | Writer | Editor

Sixty groups were invited to march in the inaugural parade. Who are they?

Attending the 57th inaugural parade this afternoon? You'll see 60 groups -- at least one from every state, selected from more than 2,800 applicants -- riding floats, marching, dancing and playing instruments along the parade route. The Presidential Inaugural Committee has the full list, but here are some facts about a few of the groups selected:

• Punahou Band and JROTC, Punahou School, Honolulu, Hawaii: President Obama attended Punahou School from fifth grade through his senior year of high school, graduating in 1979.

• South Shore Drill Team, Chicago, Illinois: The group was founded in 1980 as a positive outlet for Chicago’s inner city youth and has grown from four members to 300 between the ages of 8 and 21. The group performed 125 times in 2012.

• The Mighty Sound of Maryland, College Park, Maryland: 2013 marks the University of Maryland band's fourth inauguration. Previously, the band performed at the inaugurals of Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

• Navajo Nation Band, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah: The Navajo Nation Band previously performed at the inaugurals of John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.

• Native American Women Warriors, Pueblo West, Colorado: The Native American Women Warriors were founded in 2010 and are the first recognized all-Native American color guard made up of women.

• The Presidential Inaugural Committee commissioned eight floats for the parade, including:

  • The Hawaii State float, for the birthplace of President Barack Obama. The float will also feature a tribute to the late Sen. Daniel Inouye.

  • The Illinois State float, for the birthplace of first lady Michelle Obama.

  • The Pennsylvania State float, for the birthplace of Vice President Joe Biden.

  • The Delaware State float, for the home state of Vice President Joe Biden and second lady Dr. Jill Biden.

  • The Martin Luther King, Jr. float, to commemorate Jan. 21 as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

  • The Civil Rights Movements float, to commemorate the immigration, women’s, LGBT, civil, and labor rights movements.

  • The Tuskegee Airmen float, to honor the men who were the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces.

  • The “Our People, Our Future” float, on which citizen co-chairs for the National Day of Service will ride.

Taylor Kuether