Hundreds turn out for Durbin's reception

Bernard Schoenburg
State Journal-Register

Hundreds of people from Illinois crowded through the halls of the Library of Congress Monday morning for a reception hosted by Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat. (See photos.)

Among those who made the rounds at the reception was new U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., who was appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat. In a brief speech to the gathered crowd, Burris apologized for not shaking more hands or getting his picture taken with more people.

“I’ve talked so much I have no voice left,” Burris said. He added that people shouldn’t worry about not getting to hear him today, because “I’m going to be here for at least two more years.”

Durbin said he knew that thousands of people from Illinois wanted to attend because of the number of ticket requests his office received. Many of those who were unable to get tickets told his office they were coming anyway.

“I’ve never seen a political leader in my life who has an ability to rally people in a positive way,” Durbin said about Obama.

Among those attending was Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin, who said a cab driver told him the Capitol never looked so good, which he credited to Obama.

WASHINGTON — Five members of the Illinois Army National Guard have flown to Washington because they were called on to be the honor guard at Monday night's Illinois Inaugural Gala put on the Illinois State Society of Washington, D.C.

"It's a tremendous honor for my team," said Staff Sgt. Steven Starks, 37, of Peoria, who heads the unit. "It's an honor just to represent the Army National Guard and Camp Lincoln." Starks works in Peoria but is associated with Springfield's Camp Lincoln.

"It's an amazing opportunity to be able to be a part of the whole inauguration experience, and to rub elbows or talk with politicians from Illinois," said Staff Sgt. Tim Sanders, 28, who lives in Mount Zion and works at Camp Lincoln. He said he feels "very blessed" to be able to witness some inaugural events live instead of on TV.

Others in the honor guard, which will post the U.S. and Illinois flags at the event at the Renaissance Washington, are Sgt. 1st Class Tim Milligan of Illiopolis, Sgt. 1st Class James Rade of Peoria and Sgt. 1st Class Jason French of Virginia.

The society ball is supposed to draw 2,000 people for dinner and another 5,000 people for the party that goes into the night.

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