President-elect Donald Trump on Friday appeared to continue Georgias streak of having a group invited to participate in the inaugural parade.
Or did he?
Trumps inaugural committee released the names of dozens of bands and other organizations that had received invitations to the traditional parade that follows the new president’s swearing-in on Jan. 20 in Washington.
Included in the list was this entry: “Kids Overseas - Richmond Hill, Georgia.”
Great, right? This organization would follow in the footsteps of the Georgia State University Marching Band, that participated in the 2013 parade, and the South Cobb High School Marching Band that helped honor Barack Obama after his first inauguration in 2009.
Just one problem: Nobody seemed to know what Kids Overseas is.
The good folks in Richmond Hill, a city in southeast Georgia between Fort Stewart and Savannah, were stumped, too. Nobody at City Hall had heard of it. The local chamber of commerce was equally mystified.
Finally, someone at Trump HQ told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Kids Overseas is part of a Department of Defense program at a school for American children of military personnel at a naval station in Italy.
While there is a Rome, Georgia, it’s not very close to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, the state’s only Navy installation.
A spokeswoman for the inaugural committee later was able to confirm that the group features children from across the country whose parents are serving overseas. Someone from the organization filed paperwork with the committee that listed a Richmond Hill address, although the organization is not based there.
Regardless, the committee is pleased to have Kids Overseas in its parade.
“We’re honored to have Kids Overseas participate in this inaugural parade and we’re extremely grateful for the sacrifices made daily by our troops and their families,” committee spokesman Taylor Mason said. “This unifying event will showcase some of the best America has to offer while also paying respect to the historical traditions of the past.”
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