South Carolina National Guard Supports Presidential Inauguration

COLUMBIA, SC  (WOLO)- The South Carolina National Guard is preparing to assist with the 58th Presidential Inauguration.

Approximately 30 Soldiers from the 59th Troop Command will join the more than 7,500 citizen- Soldiers and Airmen from about 40 states and territories in the Nation’s capital.

The Soldiers will be conducting crowd management along the National Mall as part of Joint Task Force-District of Columbia.

The support of the National Guard is at the request of the local civilian authorities, as well as federal government partners.

This support ensures that the hundreds of thousands of expected spectators will be able to move around smoothly and safely before, during and after the inauguration events.

“We’re citizen soldiers,” National Guard Soldier, Michael Meissner said. “We’re here to serve when our state and our country needs us.”

The National Guard routinely performs these types of missions during major events and is able to seamlessly integrate with interagency partners.

“We had the hurricane, the year before we had the flood, and so anytime that we’re needed to help out in the states or overseas we’re here,” Meissner said.