By Conrad Easterday, CTCN Editor

The highlight of State Sen. Darrell Weaver’s trip to President Donald Trump’s Inauguration was — everything.
Enjoying the nation’s capital with his wife, Dr. Kim Weaver was a singular experience for the Moore couple who have deep roots and business in Stephens County.
“Probably really the moment is the accumulation of everything,” he said. “The whole time from the time we got there to the time we left was the level of energy. From the moment we landed.
As expected but not as they hoped, the White House was not allowing tours during the several days of their trip and Trump’s transition to the Oval Office.
The pair did attend the Oklahoma Inaugural Ball, one of many VIP balls that were part of the festivities. It was a chance to reconnect with friends from around the state and to make new ones, Weaver said.
“It was just an incredible time to be there in our nation’s capital when (the inauguration) happened,” he added.
The weather influenced the celebration significantly. The weather was the coldest in the history of presidential inaugurations and will be remembered for having been moved inside, said Weaver, a native of Comanche. The couple postponed visiting Mt. Vernon and Monticello, the historic homes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson because of the bitter weather. The hope to return in the spring when warmer aid will let them explored the grounds.
The grounds at the inauguration saw a strong police presence.
“It was the most secure place I’ve ever been. There were officers almost shoulder to shoulder,” Weaver said of security at the Inauguration. Trump survived two assassination attempts during his election campaign.
Trump’s cabinet nominees drew from the congressional ranks, and the Weavers were fortunate enough to attend the swearing-in of two new senators. In decorum and ceremony it was similar to his own swearing-in for the Oklahoma Senate, but at the federal ceremony, the new U.S. senators were sworn in by the Vice President. At Weaver’s swearing-in it was a state Supreme Court Justice who gave the oath of office.
Another difference between legislating at state level is the use of voting machines at the legislators’ desks in the Oklahoma Capitol building. Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives vote by voice — a method that adds a notable amount of time to the process when more than 435 congressmen and 100 senators have to be polled.
“At the end of the day, it was well worth the time to go,” Weaver said. “There’s something about the way we do it in America, the transfer of power. It’s really a remarkable thing. I would highly recommend that everyone should experience an Inauguration if they can in their lifetime.”