Posh Inaugural Ball Opens Doors for Vets, Troops

One of Washington’s most elegant inaugural balls is opening its doors to members of all branches of the military.
Posh Inaugural Ball Opens Doors for Vets, Troops
Curtis Ellis
12/29/2008
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/11111bjbj84123345.jpg" alt="President-elect Barack Obama will be giving away tickets to the Inaugural Ball to members of the armed services. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)" title="President-elect Barack Obama will be giving away tickets to the Inaugural Ball to members of the armed services. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1831965"/></a>
President-elect Barack Obama will be giving away tickets to the Inaugural Ball to members of the armed services. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C.―One of Washington’s most elegant balls to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama is opening its doors to members of all branches of the military―literally.

It’s The Purple Ball with tickets starting at $500 and going up to $5,000. But the organizers, which include Academy Award winning film star Louis Gossett Jr., are giving away tickets free of charge to members of each branch of the military.

“Our goal is to truly celebrate this momentous occasion where we as a nation came together and made a historic choice that not only changed the way the world sees the United States, but how we see ourselves,” said Louis Gossett.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Eracism Foundation, which Gossett founded to address the negative impact of racism through, cultural, educational and training programs in communities across America.

“I am dedicating the remainder of my life to an all-out conscientious offensive against racism,” Gossett said. “Violence is a war, and the energy we exert on war - I would like to pray that energy gets reverted back to a communal effort to save the planet. Perhaps in my own small way I can generate some energy toward the salvation of the planet.”

In the 2004 speech that launched him on the national stage, Barack Obama said America is not red states and blue states, but the United States. Recognizing that spirit of bipartisanship and diversity, Gossett named the inaugural party The Purple Ball for the color that combines red and blue.

Leaders from entertainment, politics, business, the military, media, and non-profit community organizations from across the country will attend The Purple Ball at the exclusive Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C. on inauguration night, Tuesday January 20th.

The gala and its A-list celebrity hosts including Ashley Judd, Ed Harris, Josh Lucas, Amy Madigan, and Patricia Arquette will honor veterans and service men and women in recognition of their dedication to serve, protect, and defend the nation.

Event organizers are giving tickets to veterans and troops from each branch of the military―the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. A member from each branch will receive two complimentary VIP tickets to the event.

The tickets will be awarded by a drawing. Veterans and service members can enter at http://www.inauguralpurpleball.com/honor/ before midnight December 31.
 
“Together we can not only fulfill Martin Luther King’s dream but we can proudly live up to the promise of our Pledge of Allegiance―One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all,” Gossett said.

Guests will enjoy a lavish champagne dinner, with entertainment by the international operatic pop vocal group Il Divo and singer Peter Cincotti.

For ticket and event information about The Inaugural Purple Ball, please visit http://www.inauguralpurpleball.com.
Curtis Ellis is Policy Director with America First Policies. He served as senior policy advisor on the 2016 Trump-Pence campaign, on the Presidential Transition Team, and as special adviser to the U.S. Secretary of Labor in the International Labor Affairs Bureau.