SpringfieldNewsSun.com

Springfield, Ohio — Springfielder Dale Henry has the opportunity to be steeped in history at President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2009.

Henry — a former Springfield mayor and city commissioner and current regional liaison to Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's office — may be selected by the Presidential Inaugural Committee to march in the inaugural parade with the Civil War re-enactors representing the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

The regiment, a unit of the U.S. Colored Troops, is especially important to Henry because two of his great-grandfathers served in the Civil War.

"It's a tremendous part of history that I'm proud of," Henry said, noting how one of his great-grandfathers served in one of nine African-American units present at the surrender at Appomattox in 1865 that led to the end of the Civil War.

"Especially for me to try to preserve his memory by having the same uniform that he wore in the United State Colored Troops," Henry continued. "(And) having the first African-American president — I'm sure he'd be proud to know that this has come to pass."

It seems that many Ohioans are scrambling for tickets to witness history at Obama's inauguration in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan's, R-Ohio, office reported an "overwhelming" number of ticket requests. Rep. Dave Hobson, R-Springfield, received 450 requests so far and the office will have 198 to give away, said spokeswoman Sara Perkins.

Meghan Dubyak, spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said the senator's office has received requests for 20,000 tickets and has 293 to distribute.

"We still trying the process of how to give them out," Dubyak said. "This is definitely an unprecedented level of enthusiasm and there are a lot of people who want to be part of history."

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.

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