Jacksonville, AL – As originally reported by Brett Buckner of JSU’s Media Department, on election night, Jacksonville State University seniors Noah Morgan and Jerry Haynes sat glued to their screens as news coverage signaled the historic victory that would make Donald Trump the 47th President of the United States. As the results solidified, their conversation turned to an ambitious idea—attending the Presidential Inauguration in January.
“We started making plans that night,” said Morgan, a 23-year-old Geographic Information Systems major. “It all just sort of came together.”
Their journey to Washington, D.C., was one of excitement and anticipation. Upon arrival, the first sight that struck them was the Capitol Building, standing fully illuminated against the night sky. “It was breathtaking,” Morgan recalled. “For Jerry, it was even more emotional—he’s really passionate about politics, and seeing the Capitol for the first time was a moment he won’t forget.”
Leading up to the inauguration, Morgan and Haynes received unexpected news—the ceremony would be moved indoors due to the frigid temperatures forecasted for January 20. With temperatures hovering between 15 and 20 degrees, President Trump would take the oath of office inside the Capitol Rotunda. Meanwhile, thousands of attendees, including Morgan and Haynes, were directed to the Capital One Arena, where the inauguration and subsequent parade were broadcast live.
Determined to secure a good spot, the pair woke at 3 a.m. to make their way to the arena by 4 a.m. “You should have seen me scrambling around trying to figure everything out,” Morgan laughed. “We were bundled up in full thermal gear, and even then, the cold was brutal.” Their early arrival paid off—reports estimated the line stretched three miles long, with some attendees discarding personal items just to pass through security. “We saw people dumping bags and purses on the street just so they could get in. It was crazy,” Morgan said.
Inside the arena, they watched as Donald Trump and J.D. Vance were sworn in as President and Vice President. The moment resonated deeply with Morgan. “It’s something I know I will never forget,” he said. “No matter who takes the oath, seeing the peaceful transition of power is something that makes me proud to be an American.”
This inauguration held a unique twist—after the formal swearing-in, President Trump immediately signed seven executive orders before the assembled crowd. “Watching the president himself work in real-time was something special,” Morgan noted. “Not many people can say they’ve seen a president sign executive orders in person.”
After a long day immersed in history, the students made their way back to their hotel, exhausted but fulfilled. The following day, they toured some of Washington’s most iconic landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial, the National Archives, and Ford’s Theater. “It’s a trip we’ll never forget,” Morgan said. “It’s something I’ll tell my kids and grandkids about one day.”
For Morgan, this was not his first inauguration experience. As a homeschool student, he had attended the 2017 Presidential Inauguration with his parents, including his father, Joseph Scott Morgan, Jacksonville State’s Distinguished Scholar of Applied Forensics. “My parents saw it as a great opportunity to witness how our government functions,” Morgan recalled. However, experiencing the event as an adult gave him a newfound appreciation. “Back then, I didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of what I was witnessing. This time was different. This time, I had voted—I had a say in the process.”
Morgan credited his prior experience for helping him navigate the ticketing process. “It’s fairly simple—you contact your representative, and if approved, you pick up your tickets in person at their office in D.C. the day before the inauguration,” he explained. Thanks to Congressman Mike Rogers’ office, Morgan and Haynes secured their invitations to witness history firsthand.
Reflecting on the experience, Morgan emphasized the importance of civic engagement. “No matter where you stand politically, moments like these remind you how powerful our democracy is,” he said. “It was an honor to witness history in the making.”
