On Wednesday night, Tom Hanks hosted a primetime inauguration special called “Celebrating America.” In addition to remarks from President Biden and Vice President Harris, it also included a performances from several artists like Bruce Springsteen, John Legend and Demi Lovato.
And for three seconds, during a rendition of “Halleyluah” by Yolanda Adams, it included drone footage of Milwaukee’s Hoan Bridge.
Lit up in amber, the Hoan was part of Milwaukee’s participation in the “National Memorial to Lives Lost to COVID-19.”
Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District No. 21 reached out to Bay View’s Front Room Studios to capture the footage.
“The Inauguration Committee wanted to honor the victims of COVID-19, by illuminating City Hall, the Hoan Bridge, and other Downtown business,” says Eron Laber, co-owner of Front Room. “The goal was to include something from a number of cities in the Inauguration special.”
Laber shot the stills during a rehearsal lighting on Tuesday night, while his business partner, Neil Kiekhofer, captured the drone footage on their Mavic 2 Pro.
“Standing in the cold to memorialize these victims, our city and our country was a unique feeling,” says Laber. “Seeing our footage roll by in the broadcast was emotional. We love our city and were incredibly moved to be able to help showcase it to the world.”
Says Kiekhofer, “Being asked by the City to visually represent us for a Presidential inauguration was an absolute thrill. Not only for our civic pride but also our city pride. When you have partners that love your city as much as you do, these experiences become highlights of your career.”
You can see Milwaukee’s part of the video at 56:10.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
