SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A local firefighter will lead the Pledge of Allegiance at President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration today.
Andrea Hall is fire captain for the city of South Fulton. She’s also the first Black woman in the county’s history to hold the rank.
Hall was asked by the general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters and President-elect Biden’s inauguration committee to deliver the pledge.
Channel 2′s Wendy Corona talked to Hall, who said that the honor is bigger than just herself.
“Every day that we get closer, I get another heightened level of understanding of just how important this moment is in our history,” Hall said.
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In an interview with CNN, Hall said she is humbled by the honor.
“This is really about the firefighters and the frontline workers who represent our industry in this country. It is about Fulton and the people who I represent here in the community of people that we serve,” she said. “It’s really about us being on the precipice of moving our country forward to a more united place.”
Hall told Corona that when she was first asked to do the honor, she didn’t quite believe it.
“I was like, ‘Uhhh.’ So I thought I was being punked a little bit,” Hall said. She said she’s most looking forward to making her family proud.
Hall told Corona she has enjoyed watching the new administration select talented, diverse people for leadership roles that reflect the country. She said she will be thinking of everyone who has supported her when she says the pledge.
“The words of the Pledge of Allegiance for me represent a reminder for us, for just how blessed we really are to be in these United States of America,” Hall said.
She said she thinks the pledge carries more weight now, during these trying times our country is in. She said “awesome” doesn’t begin to capture how great she’s feeling about the honor.
South Fulton’s mayor said the city is proud of Hall.
“We are proud of Capt. Harris and our entire team of fire and rescue personnel,” said Mayor William “Bill” Edwards. “She represents the best city staff in the state and it is only fitting that she lead our nation in the pledge.”
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