January 20, 2021 was the inauguration for now President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
It was definitely different than in past years, mainly due to the pandemic, but also for a couple other reasons. Attendance was significantly reduced for safety reasons, and security was significantly increased due to the insurrection on the Capitol just a couple of weeks before. Donald Trump also joins the short list of past presidents who chose not to attend the inauguration and participate in other traditions we have come to see as normal and expected.
It was a very nice inauguration and seemed to go without a hitch. Three previous presidents including Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton were in attendance. There were special performances by Lady Gaga who sang the national anthem, JLo who sang "This Land is Your Land" and "America the Beautiful", and Garth Brooks who sang "Amazing Grace". There was also a special reading of a poem by the first National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, reciting "The Hill We Climb". She is the youngest poet to read at an inauguration.
After the oaths and speeches, Biden and the three previous presidents went to Arlington Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Then there was the parade, but again, it was different than in previous years. Because of the security measures, there were very little people in the streets and it was made more for TV.
In the end, both President Biden and Madam Vice President Harris walked into their respective offices to get right to work.
