Inauguration 52 years ago

Doctors are busy attending to scheduled care and some times it takes a month of waiting to get on their schedule. The acute care clinic is designed to eliminate that troublesome wait. Moms with sick kids can show up, at their convenience, oft time outside normal business hours and little Johnnie gets the pain reliever and antibiotic prescribed to get his aching ear relieved.

Something similar was in the works for McCook. The land was contracted, dirt was being moved, the building plans were made, personnel lined up and financing secured. Maybe you have seen the site on the east side of Highway 83, where the old drive-in movie used to sit. But there has been no progress since last fall.

Now understand that I don't have a dog in this hunt! I haven't spoken to the principals and have no money in the project. I don't even know if the new niche in health care is necessary in Southwest Nebraska.

Personally I'm satisfied with the service I receive at McCook Clinic and Community Hospital. I also know that many people feel it necessary to access health care elsewhere and probably for a hundred different reasons.

However none of the above is within the providence of the McCook City Official who is blocking progress on this project either. To grant the permit to proceed, the official needs only to determine that sewer and water hookups are feasible, access and parking are adequate that sort of thing. There already exists a variety of existing business along north Highway 83 including one that is in the medical business so; "Stamp" project approved -- move on!

Well unfortunately this isn't an unusual problem in McCook. A project goes well until it gets entangled in the bureaucracy. Then for a hundred reasons it is delay after delay until too often the project dies. A good example was Mr. Cappel's housing development north of the fairgrounds which was finally killed by Mr. Bingham.

And who gained by that one? No new houses to tax for the benefit of McCook's government, no new customers to help pay for the new water and sewer plant to be. No, instead we see a number of new houses being built just outside the city limits. I thought that perhaps with Bingham gone McCook could get back to its old can-do attitude that built our fabled YMCA, our Community Hospital and other facilities that make this a great place to live. Come on City Government, get off the dime and "get 'er done"! Making decisions just can't be that tough when the ego gets out of the way!

This week the news media reported a White House meeting of the current president, the president-elect and the three living past presidents. Look around the world and find another system of government where such an event would be possible. Darn few and only those countries that have a democratic type government, England and France come to mind. Few dictatorships would allow a deposed head of government to live much less stay in the country. Here our guys met with civility and wished the president elect well. Is this a great country or what?

I look forward to watching as much of next Tuesday's inauguration as I'll be able to see, probably on the FOX News Network. The event will bring back a lot of memories from when I was privileged to take part in inauguration festivities for President Eisenhower's second term in 1957.

I remember that the day was cold. We Air Force Academy Cadets wore our new Cecil Be DeMille-designed uniforms with blue overcoat, silver scarves and wheel hat. At least the streets of the parade route had been cleared of snow and ice so marching was not that tough.

An odd thing was that the presidential reviewing stand was on our left as we passed by. Normally in military formations dignitaries are placed on the right as one marches by and the standard command of "Eyes Right" is given followed by "Present Arms."

If you look closely, the column closest to the reviewing stand continues to march with their eyes straight ahead while all other personnel turn their heads approximately 45 degrees to the right. With the presidential viewing stand on the steps of the Capitol being on our left we had to use the unusual command of "Eyes Left" as we approached the reviewing stand. No big problem as the left column, including me, kept eyes straight ahead and so I missed looking the new President Ike in the eye as we passed.

Normally for an inauguration parade each of the Service Academies will send a unit to represent the Army, Navy, or Coast Guard. 1957 being the first time ever that the Air Force Academy was available we took the entire Cadet Wing -- all 500 or so of us.

Following the parade, a call went out for volunteers to perform escort services at one of the three separate Inaugural Balls. I was selected and bussed to the Armory, a rather large old brick building featuring a huge auditorium. Our function was to receive guests at the door, check their formal invitation for assigned seating, offer our arm to the lady and be followed by the gentleman plus other guests to their assigned place in the hall.

Due to the fog of time dulling my memory, I only remember names of two guests that I escorted, Sen. Carl Curtis from Nebraska and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy.

A movie star at the time, Murphy was only one of many Medal of Honor honorees present. With guests seated we cadets were free to graze from the loaded buffet tables though the champagne and other spirits were off limits. I was intrigued to step behind the large curtains that covered all the walls and find armed secret service personnel on vigilant watch.

Later in the evening, with much fanfare, President Ike and his lady, Mamie, showed up on stage accompanied by Vice President Nixon and wife, Pat. All were dressed to the nines and, following, a short speech by Ike both couples danced a bit. What seemed a short time later, they disappeared to attend the other big formal balls.

All in all, it was an enchanting evening and a far cry from the proms I had enjoyed only a couple of years earlier at McCook Senior High School.

This year there will be at least six formal balls in action. I suspect that Cadets from all the Academies will perform escort service. The parade will be frigid but for all of America it is a time to enjoy the celebration, no matter who won the election.

That is the way I saw it.