By: Mike Allen

Boy Scouts, marching bands, drill teams and a 1965 Mustang are being invited to march (and drive) in next month’s inaugural parade for the newly sworn-in 44th president, Barack Obama. 

The Presidential Inaugural Committee is releasing a list of 49 organizations that received the first wave of the coveted invitations. Ten or 20 lucky groups will still get the call for the parade, which will last more than two hours . 

Reflecting widespread euphoria over the historic transfer of power, inaugural planners received a record 1,382 applications, up from the usual 300 to 400. And that’s for what eventually will be 60 or 70 slots. 

One of the least surprising entries: The Buffanblu Marching Band and JROTC Unit from Obama’s alma mater, the elite Punahou School in Honolulu. The president-elect, then called Barry, attended from 1971 (fifth grade) until his graduation in 1979. Along the way, he sang in the concert choir and boys’ chorus, played football and basketball, and joined the literary journal. 

Another invitation with Obama connections: The Fighting Blue Hens Marching Band from the University of Delaware, where campaign manager David Plouffe was a political science major. (Coincidentally, top McCain campaign adviser Steve Schmidt is also an alumnus.) 

In a release the committee explained: “The Presidential Inaugural Committee was assisted in its selection process by a group of experienced military musicians, who utilized their expertise to help assess the presentation skills of marching bands, musical acts and drill teams. 

“All participants in the Inaugural Parade are responsible for paying for their own lodging and transportation to and from Washington, D.C. The Committee has been working closely with area governments and civic organizations to facilitate access to affordable accommodations and would like to encourage citizens from across the country to reach out and help these organizations raise the necessary resources to participate in this historic event.” 

The Obama family, after leading the parade from the Capitol to the White House, will watch from a massive, heated reviewing stand on Pennsylvania Avenue, just outside the gate of their new home. 

The stand has been under construction since September, and its frame and wiring are in place. 

The 56th Presidential Inaugural will begin at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 20. 

The Presidential Inaugural Committee said: “Invitations are being made and accepted as part of an ongoing process, so please check back at www.pic2009.org for rolling additions to this list.” 

Here is the preliminary list of parade participants: 

• Mobile Azalea Trail Maids, AL 

• Mountain Ridge High School Pride of the West Marching Band, AZ 

• The Freedom Riders, CO 

• Windsor High School Marching Band, CO 

• Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band, CT 

• Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association, DE 

• Delaware State University Marching Band, DE 

• Alexis duPont High School Band, DE 

• University of Delaware Fighting Blue Hen Marching Band, DE 

• 1965 Mustang of the DC Metropolitan Police Dept, DC 

• South Cobb High School Blue Eagle Marching Band, GA 

• Punahou School Marching Band, HI 

• Punahou School JROTC, HI 

• The Jesse White Tumbling Team, IL

• The World Famous Lawn Rangers from Amazing Arcola, IL

• Morton High School Marching Band, IL 

• Whitney M. Young Magnet High School Navy JROTC, IL 

• Carl Sandburg High School Marching Eagles, IL 

• Angel Drill Team, IL 

• The Tempel Lipizzans of Tempel Farms, IL 

• The Culver Academies, IN 

• Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard, First Infantry Division, Fort Riley KS 

• Prevention Partnership, Warren County, KY Sheriff’s Office, KY 

• Grambling State University World Famed Tiger Marching Band, LA 

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment Company A Band, MA 

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment, MA 

• Sanford High School Marching Band, ME 

• Americorps Alums, MD 

• Comfort Carriages, MD 

• Michigan’s Mounted Police Drill Team and Color Guard, MI 

• Wyandotte Marching Chiefs, MI 

• Fergus Falls High School Marching Band, MN 

• Theodore Roosevelt High School Marine Corps JROTC Color Guard and Drill Team, MO 

• Petal High School Marching Band, MS 

• Crow Nation of Montana, MT 

• Londonderry High School Marching Lancer Band and Color Guard, NH 

• Bonnie Brae Knights, NJ 

• Green Valley High School Marching Band, NV 

• Brooklyn Music and Arts Program, NY 

• The Ohio State University Marching Band, OH 

• Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, OK 

• The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, PA 

• Boy Scouts of America, Troop 358, PA 

• North Allegheny High School Tiger Marching Band, PA 

• East Greenwich High School, RI 

• Manning High School Golden Pride Marching Band, SC 

• Brattleboro Union High School Band, VT 

• Evergreen High School Marching Band, WA 

• Nicholas County Army JROTC,WV