FHS grad assists at inauguration

LT. CMDR. TANYA JEITZ SCHNEIDER Fairfield high school graduate and Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Tayna Jeitz Schneider served last month as a member of the 2009 Armed Forces Inaugural Committee which supported the 56th presidential inauguration on Jan. 20.

The joint-service committee was charged with coordinating all military ceremonial support for the inauguration. As a joint committee, it included members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces, including reserve and national guard components.

The military members have participated in the inauguration of the American president since April 30, 1789, when members of the army, militia units and Revolutionary War veterans escorted George Washington to his first inaugural ceremony at Federal Hall in New York City.

Almost 225 years later, the military continues to honor the commander-inchief.

Participation by the armed forces included musical units, marching bands, color guards, salute batteries and honor cordons.

Soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, and coast guard members assigned to the committee also provided assistance to the Presidential Inaugural Committee, a not-for-profit, partisan organization representing the presidentelect, and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inauguration Ceremonies.

The Secretary of Defense authorized more than 700 service members to be assigned to the inaugural committee by Inauguration Day to help coordinate Department of Defense support in and around the District of Columbia.

More than 5,000 service members participated in the celebration, both in view of the public and behind the scenes.

The commander served as a military assistant with the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee based at Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

She is regularly assigned to Headquarters U.S. Coast Guard in Washington, D.C.

The lieutenant commander has served in the military for more than 18 years.

She is the daughter of Bob and Jo Jeitz of Palestine.

Lt. Cmdr. Schneider graduated in 1990 from Fairfield high school and received a bachelor's degree in 1994 from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn. She earned a master's degree in 1998 from the University of Miami, Fla.