Brookland, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Jan. 17, 2025 – A Brookland high school student will brave the chilly January air on Monday to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Houston Johnson, 17, a senior at Brookland High School, has been planning this trip for a while. Right after the presidential election’s outcome was certain, he informed his parents, Shawn and Danna Johnson, that a trip to D.C. for the inauguration would be a great Christmas present.

“I just thought it’d be a cool experience and something that will never happen again in my lifetime,” Johnson said. For him. he said, it’s more about seeing Trump enter office for the second time than just attending a presidential inauguration.

He added that he would not have been interested in attending if Vice President Kamala Harris had won.

“I wouldn’t have even wanted to watch it then,” he said.

Danna started with a Facebook post, asking friends if they had any contacts for her and trying to figure out exactly how to get tickets. A multitude of responses poured in, and she eventually was in touch with Sen. John Boozman’s office. Through his office, the family acquired four tickets: one for Johnson, his girlfriend Tabitha Bridges, and his parents.

The group is flying to Virginia from Memphis on Sunday, spending the night, and starting Monday bright and early. They will travel to D.C. for the event, which starts mid-morning with the swearing-in taking place at noon. Then, it’s back to Memphis Monday night.

How close will they be to the action? “There’s a section of family and friends in front of us,” Johnson said. “We’re in the section behind that.”

The weather is expected to be cold, with clear and sunny skies but a high temperature of 22 degrees. So, the Johnson family will layer up.

“We’ll have to stand out there for a few hours, at least four to six hours,” he said.

Still, Johnson said his excitement is undaunted and he’s ready for Trump’s second term.

“I just like how our country was when he was in office,” he said. “I feel like it was in a better place than the last four years.”

JAN. 19 UPDATE: Due to Trump moving the inauguration indoors because of forecasted frigid temperatures, Johnson and his family are no longer attending the ceremony.