Thousands hope for tickets: Crowd lines up for a chance to see Bush at Monticello

By Bryan McKenzie, Media General News Service
Published: July 2, 2008

Thousands waited for hours Wednesday for a ticket to Monticello’s Fourth of July celebration and naturalization ceremony, but it took two people eight years to get there.
Krishnamacher Rajagopalan and his wife, Rejalaksmi Rangavajan, India-born Canadian citizens, started the lengthy naturalization process before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. On Friday they will take their oath as naturalized Americans and hear President Bush live and in person.
“We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and we’re very excited that the president is coming to speak,” Rajagopalan said, standing outside the Monticello Visitor’s Center. “It is an honor.”
The couple arrived at the visitor center at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday hoping to get tickets for elderly neighbors to the limited seating event. They were unsuccessful, as people who had spent the better part of two hours waiting in line took the 1,000 tickets set aside for the general public.
Many who missed the tickets put their names on a will-call list in case more seats become available.
“They got down to the last three tickets and I was four people away,” said Mike Richards, of Charlottesville. “We’re on the waiting list and we’re hoping for the best so we can get to see the president. I guess we’re disappointed, but hopeful.”
Gloria Collier, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., her mother Gay Powell, of Charlottesville, and her son Bryce Schneider showed up around 3:30 a.m.. Shortly thereafter, 10-year-old Bryce wrapped himself up in a blanket, crawled onto a sleeping bag, covered his face with a sweatshirt and went to sleep.

“We’re looking forward to it. I’m excited about the experience. It’s once in a lifetime and there’s a history to it,” Collier said, standing guard over the sleeping Bryce, whose blanket-wrapped body bore a striking resemblance to an Egyptian mummy. “Bryce is looking forward to seeing his grandmother and we’re looking forward to seeing the president.”
Rajagopalan and Rangavajan are looking forward to becoming U.S. citizens.
“This is one of the greatest countries in the world and the best place to live. It’s still the land of opportunity,” Rajagopalan said. “We’re excited to be citizens and to be able to vote in the next election as well.”
Bush accepted a standing invitation from Monticello to sitting presidents and is scheduled to speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony Friday.
Bryan McKenzie is a staff writer at the Daily Progress in Charlottesville.