Through the years, Montanans have been a part of the Presidential inaugurations.
Because of security and COVID, many saw a different celebration for President Biden than what they experienced.
Several people in the Billings area have been to a presidential inauguration, including Phyllis Burns, the wife of the late Senator Conrad Burns.
They went to inaugurations from 1989 to 2005.
"I got to be up on the stage to watch the second inauguration of George W. Bush," Burns said. "And that was quite a thrill to just see what was going on, and to watch the wonderful way our government works."
"Just like in the twilight zone," said Lisa Ullman, who attended in 2005. "I mean, because everybody is just so happy and they're all dressed up. And you know that the world is watching with the American president being one of the top leaders of the world."
"Lots of energy," said Jenna McKinney who attended in 2017 with her son who was 10 at the time. "It was the most patriotic thing I've ever been to. It was an amazing experience, the memory of a lifetime. And literally the people that I met there, some from Missouri, some from Ohio, were friends that we stuck with throughout all the events, and we were all texting today remembering how special that was."
"Surreal, honestly," said Chris Skorupa, who chaperoned 4-H kids. "To be at the nation's capital and for the transition of power, and just being there with all the people and just the celebration. It's just pretty paramount, the end of the day."
Both McKinney and Skorupa said it was a good educational experience for the children to go to Washington D.C.
