A crowd cheered and the Marine band struck up "Hail to the Chief" as a stand-in for the president-elect put his left hand on a book and raised his right hand as if ready to take the oath of office. Twenty-six-year-old Army staff sergeant Derrick Brooks, who resembles Mr. Obama, stood in for the president-elect at the U.S. Capitol.
Brooks was among thousands of U.S. military service members who took part in Sunday's exercises, nine days before the actual ceremonies. Other inauguration day figures, including incoming Vice President Joe Biden, soon-to-be first lady Michelle Obama and the Obamas' daughters, Sasha and Malia, were portrayed by stand-ins.
Later, at the Capitol, the military practiced the landing of a helicopter that will take outgoing President George Bush to Andrews Air Force Base after Mr. Obama is sworn in.
