Trail Maids Arrive In D.C.

WASHINGTON – They arrived in buses from Mobile bundled in scarves, jeans and coats.

But freezing temperatures could not chill the excitement of the Azalea Trail Maids as they arrived in Washington Monday to take part in the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

“We’ve been so excited the cold has kind of passed over us,” said Jessica Payne, 18, a senior at LeFlore High School.

Tuesday, the 49 teenagers will be dressed in pastel bonnets and dresses with hoop skirts for the inaugural parade.

Marching won’t be easy. The group said they will be wearing as many layers as possible as well as matching capes to brave the cold. And marching in dresses that weigh 35 pounds and are 5 feet in diameter is no day at the beach.

But they’ve practiced.

“We just wanted to make sure we are perfect for tomorrow,” Mihika Batavia, 17, of Faith Academy.

The Trail Maids left Mobile at 7 a.m. Sunday and, after a stopover in Bristol, Va., pulled into Washington about 2:30 p.m. Monday.

Andy Marasca, president of the Azalea Trail Maids, said the girls are ecstatic and their excitement grew as they saw the masses of people on the National Mall Monday.

“From the minute we saw the crowds, they’ve been soaking it all in,” he said.

The cold – Tuesday’s high is predicted to be 31 degrees - hasn’t been all bad. It was a treat for many of the girls who saw snow – some for the first time since they were in elementary school.

“We’ve had a snowball fight just about every time we’ve seen snow,” said Batavia, who’ll be wearing a peach-colored dress.

Shana Nason, 18, of Theodore High School, said she wouldn’t mind a little snow.

“I would love to see snow on our dresses,” she said.

The Trail Maids’ presence in the parade sparked some controversy.

Several weeks ago, Alabama NAACP President Edward Vaughn said another group should also represent Alabama in the parade to better reflect Alabama’s history.

Vaughn said the antebellum costumes the Trail Maids wear are a reminder of the slave era and the group would be a “laughingstock.”

On Monday, Vaughn apologized for that comment, but said he still would have preferred an additional group from Alabama to march with the Trail Maids representing the civil rights movement in the state.

The Trail Maids, who will make their second appearance in an inaugural parade, were founded in 1949 and are considered ambassadors of the city. The girls’ dresses are made to represent the city’s azalea blooms.

“It’s very prestigious,” Marasca said. “It’s totally merit-based. Not a debutante at all.”

For participants, marching in the parade is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I’m so happy to be a part of history with the girls that I’ve grown close to,” Payne said.