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WASHINGTON - Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will join President-elect Joe Biden at Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after Biden's swearing-in next week.
Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will lay the wreath after they take the Oath of Office and conduct a Pass in Review inspection of the troops at the Capitol on Jan. 20, Biden's inaugural committee announced Monday. The ceremony will be one of Biden's first official acts as the new commander in chief.
The announcement that three former presidents will accompany Biden follows President Donald Trump's announcement last week that he will skip Biden's inaugural. Trump will be the first outgoing president in 152 years to refuse to attend his successor's inauguration. Vice President Mike Pence will attend the swearing-in ceremony.
© Andrew Harnik, APPresident-elect Joe Biden speaks at The Queen theater, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Wilmington, Delaware.
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Former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton also will attend the ceremony at Arlington.
The theme of Biden's inauguration will be "America United," the Presidential Inaugural Committee said.
"This inauguration marks a new chapter for the American people - one of healing, of unifying, of coming together, of an America united," said Tony Allen, the committee's chief executive officer. "It is time to turn the page on this era of division. The inaugural activities will reflect our shared values and serve as a reminder that we are stronger together than we are apart, just as our motto 'e pluribus unum' reminds us - out of many, one.' "
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As part of the inaugural events, a "Field of Flags" public art exhibition will be erected on the National Mall and include 191,500 U.S. flags of varying sizes, including flags representing every state and territory and 56 pillars of light.
This exhibit, which will cover the National Mall up to 13th Street, will represent the American people who are unable to travel to Washington for the inauguration, the inaugural committee said.
Biden's inauguration will be a scaled-down event because of the health risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Tickets to the swearing-in ceremony will be limited. The traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue will be replaced by a virtual parade that will be televised.
Michael Collins covers the White House. Reach him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Obama, Bush and Clinton to join Biden for wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington Cemetery after inauguration