Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on January 23, 1961.
2 V-M Carriers Thrilled By Inauguration Rites
The color, vitality, and pulsating throngs of people who milled through Washington, D.C., on the weekend of Jan. 20 will be long remembered by two Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger carrier boys who were fortunate enough to witness the inauguration of the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy.
Ron Oelling, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Oelling, RFD 5, Cooks Corners, and Ron Boyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Weller, 403 Beech, were the two lucky lads who saw the inauguration proceedings from choice seats in the stands of Section B, just to the left of the television platform, and directly opposite the inaugural platform.
Boyer (left) and Oelling (right)
The boys, winners in a recent contest conducted by The Vidette-Messenger, were taken on a three-day tour of the Capital by Vincent Anderson, V-M circulation manager.
The tour was under the auspices of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and included a jam-packed three days of sightseeing, in addition to the inauguration and the inaugural parade.
Through the generosity of Rep. Charles Halleck, minority leader of the House of Representatives, the boys and Anderson were able to obtain tickets to the prized seats just two hours before the swearing-in ceremony was to begin.
Anderson contacted the Congressman early Friday morning and was invited to the Capitol building where the office of the minority leader is located. There they were given tickets for the Inauguration proceedings.
Boys Meet Halleck
While at the Capitol, Anderson was able to introduce the two boys to Congressman Halleck, immediately before he left in his car to pick up Vice President Richard Nixon.
They were also able to see Sen. Mike Mansfield, majority leader of the Senate, as he was leaving his office for the Inaugural.
The bitter cold and heavy snowfall in Washington Friday hampered traffic to the Capital but by 11 a.m. the streets were filled with invited guests and sightseers all converging on the grounds.
The boys, who had gone back to their hotel for Oelling’s camera, were caught in the crush of people and security police on Pennsylvania avenue. The police checked the passes about five times before the group was able to reach their section of the stands by 11:30 a.m., it was noted.
Impressed By Youth
About 50,000 persons filled the available seats and lined the grounds to witness the inauguration.
Anderson stated the speech given by the new president was very well received by those assembled, and the affection of all for poet Robert Frost was evident.
“I was very impressed,” Anderson noted, “by the youth of the men who will make up the administration, and by the number of young governors seen in the parade.”
Anderson and the boys went to the stand to witness the parade and were able to obtain seats on South Pennsylvania avenue, directly in front of the U.S. District court building.
Red Cross and First Aid station personnel worked overtime treating frostbite cases, and others who suffered ill effects in the cold weather.
See Gov. Welsh
During the parade, the group was able to see Gov. Matt Welsh and the units sent from Indiana. They moved down Pennsylvania avenue with the throngs and finally left to eat dinner at 6 p.m.
The boys arrived in the Capital on Thursday morning and toured the Capitol, building, House of Representatives, and the White House; went to the top of the Washington monument, and the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. On Friday night, despite all the excitement of the day, they toured the Lincoln Memorial, National Archives and the Capitol grounds at night.
They checked out of the Annapolis hotel Saturday morning for the final part of their tour, and went to Mount Vernon and Arilington. At Arlington they witnessed the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and visited the Iwo Jima memorial, the Smithsonian Institute, and the National Gallery of Art.
At 6 p.m., they boarded the train for their return trip, tired but happy, excited and exuberant over all the things they had managed to accomplish in three days. They returned to Valparaiso Sunday morning.