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Hargrove Shifts to ‘Round-the-Clock Operations to Install Inaugural Events

(Washington, D.C.) January 17, 2005 – Hargrove, Inc., the general service contractor for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, is shifting to ‘round-the-clock operations as it moves 100 trailer loads of staging and décor to more than 20 locations around Washington, D.C. in preparation for the inaugural’s opening ceremonies, nine official inaugural balls, three candlelight dinners, other official events, and a host of private events celebrating the inauguration.

            The company will begin moving six floats for the inaugural parade to Pennsylvania Avenue Wednesday evening, January 19 and will complete the floats’ assembly overnight in preparation for their ride down Pennsylvania Avenue January 20.

            Hargrove is using 25,000 board feet of lumber, 500 gallons of paint, 600 rolls of carpet, and 20,000 yards of fabric to help create the décor.

            There will be 15,000 dried and silk flowers on the six parade floats.  The Theme Float is a 35-foot-long scroll depicting the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, draped with red and blue satin and featuring red roses and white daisies.  Riders will be dressed in period costumes.  The Texas float, honoring President Bush, is 45-feet-long and is pulled by a 20-foot tow unit bearing the Texas Seal.  The Crawford, Texas High School Band will perform from the float, which also includes a 23-foot-tall backdrop with the word TEXAS, giant long horns, and the lone star symbol.  Yellow roses and other native Texas plants decorate the edges of the float.

            The Wyoming float, honoring Vice-President Cheney, features scenes and symbols of Wyoming.  The 45-foot-long float includes a Grand Teton mountain scene, complete with a 1,000-gallon re-circulating stream, stuffed buffalo, and cowboy riding a bucking bronco.  The 20-foot-long tow unit is disguised with an authentic 1862 Conestoga wagon.  A refurbished, early 20^th-Century Trolley car will carry a hand bell choir and a 20-foot-long South Seas-themed float will carry a dance troupe.

            The finale to the parade will be a 36-fot-tall Eagle towing a 63-foot-long American Flag.  The flag is covered in 5,000 yards of red, white, and blue satin and has been completely refurbished since it appeared in the 1989 inauguration of President Bush’s father.  This is the third inaugural in which it has participated.

            “We’re extremely proud of the role our company plays in this great American celebration,” said Earl C. Hargrove, who has provided services to every inauguration since 1949.

            Hargrove’s 200 full time workers began producing the materials and signage needed for the Inauguration December 26, 2004.  An additional 450 temporary workers will be used throughout the week to install the décor.

            For more information about Hargrove, visit www.hargroveinc.com.

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Contact: Marvin A. Bond 301-306-4665 or marvinbond@hargroveinc.com