When Aiden Carignan’s father presented him with tickets to fly to Washington D.C. to attend the presidential inauguration, it was just about the biggest surprise of his young life.
“I felt like I was going to pass out,” said 9-year-old Aiden, of Rindge, of the moment when his father, Shane Carignan, presented him with the tickets. “I never felt like that before – I had a bunch of jumbled emotions.”
Aiden, topped with one of President Donald Trump’s signature red “Make America Great Again” caps, said he has been following the election this past year, even doing a bit of mini-campaigning for Trump at the end of his driveway to collect money to send to his campaign. Aiden even dressed up as Trump for Halloween.
“I got interested in hearing who would be the new leader of our country. I though it would be important,” said Aiden. “I just thought he was a good, level-headed person, who really would make America great again and work hard to protect this country.”
His father decided to foster that interest by surprising Aiden with tickets to join the crowds that traveled to D.C. to watch Trump’s inauguration on the big screen.
“He just decided that this was his thing,” said his mother, Heather Carignan. “We’re not political at all,” she added, indicating herself and her husband. “But when he picks something to be into, it’s full bore. He’ll eat, breathe and sleep it until he moves onto the next thing.”
It was an overwhelming experience to see Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, even through the filter of the big screen most of the crowd watched the event on, said Aiden.
And after the inauguration, Shane and Aiden went to see what Shane told Aiden was “the other side of the coin” – those who were protesting Trump’s election, to show Aiden the importance of living in a country where people have that right.
Aiden said he’d love to go to other presidential inaugurations when he’s older – though he said he would only attend ones where someone he’d supported had won.
“It was just a cool experience,” he said. “You don’t get to go to a presidential inauguration very often. It was just an honor to be there, and seeing him and Mike Pence and all of his supporters.”
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’d on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.