Scores of Twin Tiers residents will be among the hundreds of thousands flocking to Washington on Tuesday for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, and regardless of their political affiliation, they agree that the significance of the event, not the issues, is what lures them to the nation's capital.

"This is such a historical event," said Mike Hurd, 43, of Corning, a history teacher at Corning East High School. "It's an amazing time for America to step forth.

"We may have fallen back a bit, but we're back on the cutting edge again in terms of diversity and fairness. We're back at the forefront of democracy."

He hopes the new administration will immediately work hard at mending international fences.

Hurd was able to secure tickets to the inauguration through one of his students, 17-year-old senior Alex Massa, whose father, U.S. Rep. Eric Massa, D-Corning, was elected to the House of Representatives in November.

Hurd and Massa won't be alone in traveling from the Twin Tiers to Washington.

As many as 200 people from Elmira, Ithaca and surrounding areas will climb aboard Endicott-based Shafer's Tour & Charter motor coaches early Tuesday to make the journey to Washington, owner Larry Shafer said.

"We have one going out of Elmira and three out of Ithaca's Cornell University," Shafer said.

Shafer didn't know until two weeks ago where he would be able to park the buses since city officials are anticipating 8,000 to 10,000 motor coaches, he said.

His passengers will be dropped off at FedEx Stadium, home of the Washington Redskins, a few blocks from a Metro train station.

"This is going to be huge," Shafer said. "People have to understand and expect delays. There will be more than a million people walking around an eight- to 10-block area."

Catherine White, 37, of Elmira, will be one of the passengers on Shafer's bus. She'll be traveling with her 9-year-old nephew, Nathan Mosher, she said.

"I know I won't see (Obama) in person, but this is my way of saying, 'I'm in this with you,'" White said.

"I voted for him, I believe in him, and I'm willing to make the sacrifice to trek down there with millions of people.

"It's a real statement for me," White said. "There are so many moments in history you wish you could be a part of, Woodstock, riding civil rights buses to the South, seeing Martin Luther King. This is, no matter what, an amazing historic event, and we're going to be there."

So will Jeremy Shepard, 29, of Gang Mills, a history teacher at Corning West High School. He will go with Corning East colleague Hurd.

Both plan to incorporate their experiences into classroom lessons.

"I've already done that some," Shepard said. "We teach about U.S. presidents in class, and the students were excited about this election. I saw a lot of young people voting. This election showed kids their votes counted."

However, Hurd and Shepard agreed that if John McCain had won the election, they wouldn't be as enthusiastic about going to the presidential inauguration.

"But, it doesn't really hinge on McCain as much as it does Massa's election," Hurd said. "It was his graciousness that gave us this opportunity."

Some local residents earned their inaugural trips through academics, good citizenship and leadership. In some cases, the quest began two years ago.

Matt Brewer, an Elmiran who is a senior at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Ind., will not only attend the inauguration, he will be part of the Inaugural Parade, on horseback, amid 100 riders with Black Horse Troop and Equestrians.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Brewer, 18. "I'll probably never be able to do it again. Not only will I witness history, I'll be part of it. It's pretty cool."

Brewer planned to leave Friday for Washington, D.C., and stay through Wednesday.

While he said he was excited about the opportunity to ride, he was concerned about the horses.

"We have to hold the horses for five or six hours before we ride, in the cold," Brewer said. "I'm not sure how well that will go."

Brewer planned to attend the inauguration regardless of who won the election, he said.

The Black Horse Troop and Equestrians are composed of the best horsemen and horsewomen of Culver Academy, he said. They represent 19 states and 11 countries.

To be considered, he said, students must maintain good academic standing and citizenship at the school, while demonstrating proficiency and equitation.

"I'm really excited about it," said Brewer, the son of Tom and Denise Brewer of Elmira. "I just wish my sister could ride, too."

Katie Groeger, 14, of Corning, a freshman at Corning East, said it didn't matter who was elected, she is thrilled to be going. It was just a bonus, she said, that Obama was elected.

"I like him," Groeger said. "There are two main reasons. His stance on abortion and gay marriage ... People should be free to marry who they love."

Groeger will attend the inauguration under the auspices of the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference, a program for students who participated in other youth leadership forum programs, and was nominated two years ago for the opportunity by a humanities teacher in the district, she said.

She feels the opportunity gave her a chance to learn a lot about American democracy, specifically putting a new president into office and the responsibilities and issues of that appointment, Groeger said.

She's looking forward to keynote conference speakers Gen. Colin L. Powell, former Secretary of State; Al Gore, former vice president and Nobel Prize winner; and Desmond Tutu, also a Nobel Prize winner.

"I'm looking forward to that almost as much as the inauguration itself," Groeger said.

And, of course, there's the Black Tie Inaugural Ball.

"It's going to be really crazy," she said. "I just hope I see someone I know among the 4,000 students going with the conference."

Many said they look forward to the moment Obama is sworn into office.

"When (Chief Justice) John Roberts swears him in, that's when it will become real," Shepard said. "My hair will probably stand on end the second he is inaugurated. I'm looking forward to it."

"I watched my dad being sworn in, and it was very emotional. It really hit me when I saw the plaque that had his name on it," Alex Massa, 17, said.

"I look forward to the inauguration. It's great to be part of something so monumental."