Local 12 year old gets ready to attend 2009 Presidential Inauguration

By By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Jan 14, 2009 at 5:40 PM EST

Story Updated: Sep 21, 2009 at 2:05 PM EST

NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. (WKTV) - When millions of people watch President-elect Barack Obama take the oath of office live in Washington on Tuesday, a local elementary school student will be among them.

Gabrielle Johnson of New Hartford opened her mail one Spring day last year, and out of the envelope came this 12-year-old's ticket to history.

"My mom said, 'you got mail,' so I opened it, then I saw that symbol and then I got really excited," said Johnson.

It was an invitation from the Junior Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference, to the Presidential Inauguration.

But it was 8 months before the election, so Johnson didn't know who she'd be watching take the oath of office. After election day, she began doing her homework.

"I'm really excited," she said. "And I'm reading a book right now about President Obama to get some background."

In addition to witnessing history first-hand as the nation's first African- American president is sworn into office, Johnson will get to see Washington like she's never seen it.

"We're going to view the monuments, go to all the museums and we're going to be going in the east and west wing of the White House," she said.

Gabrielle Johnson says this is the most exciting thing that's happened in her 12 years. She and her family leave for Washington on Saturday morning.
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