Local residents attend Presidential Inauguration

Clint Pate and Kelley Register

Several Graceville residents had the opportunity to attend the 2025 Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C. Local resident Clint Pate did not only have the opportunity to attend the inauguration with friend and local business owner Kelley Register, but he was also one of the Florida delegates who voted in the Electoral College.

Pate is no stranger to politics as a previous County Commissioner and officer in the State of Florida Republican party. He spoke about being awarded the opportunity to go to the inauguration stating, “I was honored to be selected as an Electoral College voter. With this, I received a special invitation to the Inauguration.”

He continued telling about his journey to Washington while all of Graceville prepared for snow. He began, “My wife, Alice Pate, couldn’t attend this year because of her recent major back surgery. My good friend, Kelley Register, and I flew out of Ft Walton Beach Airport and arrived in Washington DC after lunch.” He and Register’s day ended meeting fellows members of the Republican Party of Florida. Pate continued speaking about the next day, “Saturday morning, we had breakfast with elected officials from Florida as speakers [and] Saturday night we attended the Florida Sunshine Ball where we were entertained by Kid Rock.”

After a night of entertainment, Pate and Register spent Sunday touring the Florida House and taking some time to sight see. He commented about the weather, “It was bitter cold and our time outside was limited. DC had snow on the ground when we flew in and it did snow on Sunday.” He went on to add, “Since the Inauguration was moved inside the capital and the official viewing party only held 20,000 people, we chose to watch with others at the hotel.” He continued, “Monday night was the highlight of the trip, we attended the Liberty Ball. We got into the Ball early and was standing as close as one could get to the performers and President Trump and Family. Entertainers that performed were Jason Aldean, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Village People, and Nelly. President Trump and Vice President Vance came out on the stage with their wife’s and addressed the very large crowd.”

When asked what were some of the highlights from this trip that will stay with Pate forever, he answered, “Getting to share the experience with my good friend Kelley Register and being part of history. I had the same experience in 2016, but I think this one was better.” Pate and Register’s trip didn’t end there though as Winter Storm Enzo hit Graceville right when it was time for the duo to come back to Florida, Pate commented, “We had return flights cancelled because of the snow in Florida [causing us] to stay an extra night.” He continued the next day the duo, “flew to Atlanta but couldn’t get a flight out.” After realizing that planes were going nowhere near North Florida, Pate stated, “We decided to rent a car and drive home. We made it home safely to find more snow than we had seen in DC!”

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