Only the earlybirds got the tickets.

By Bryan McKenzie

Published: July 2, 2008

It took about a half-hour this morning for Monticello officials to distribute 1,000 tickets for its annual Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony on Friday, but it took at least two or more hours of waiting for the folks who wanted them.

The ceremony features President George W. Bush, who accepted the standing invitation offered to sitting presidents by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation to speak at the naturalization ceremony.

There were more people waiting in line than there were tickets to be distributed at the 7 a.m. handout. Hopefuls parked in the Monticello Visitor Center parking lot, along the roadway leading to Piedmont Virginia Community College and even on nearby Scottsville Road hoping to get seats for the Fourth of July event.

Most went away disappointed, many leaving their names on a will-call list in case someone should turn tickets in or 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.”

Sam Koontz, of Harrisonburg, didn’t want to be disappointed. That’s why he showed up at the visitor’s center at 9 p.m. Tuesday and hung around.

“I’ve been amusing myself by talking and laughing with people when they started showing up around 3:30 or 4 this morning,” Koontz said before the doors opened. “I figured I could make the effort to come over here and get tickets so I could give them to family and spend [July 4] with them.”

Most of the early risers arrived at the distribution site by 4 a.m.. They said Bush’s appearance was the primary motivator for coming out.

“This is only the fourth president to appear at Monticello and that’s an historical event,” said David MacDonald, of Charlottesville. “This is what it’s all about; Monticello, the president and especially the naturalization of citizens at a time when so many immigrants come to this country with no interest of becoming citizens.”

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, lay upon a sleeping bag, covered his face with a sweatshirt and went to sleep.

“When he was younger we used to drive up and down the California coast taking his brothers to basketball games and I’d set up a pallet in the gym and he’d go to sleep. He can pretty much sleep anywhere and through anything,” Collier laughed, standing guard over the sleeping Bryce, whose blanket-wrapped body bore a striking resemblance to King Tut.

“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. “Bryce is looking forward to seeing his grandmother and we’re looking forward to seeing the president.”

Not everyone will get that opportunity. Krishnamacher Rajagopalan and his wife Rejalaksmi Rangavajan arrived at 6:30 a.m. to get tickets for their good friends and neighbors. The couple will be at the ceremony because they are taking the oath, but they hoped their friends could be there as well.

“It’s an important day for us and they’ve been good friends. We wanted them to be able to be there,” said Rangavajan.

The natives of India, and Canadian citizens, said they are looking forward to taking the oath and becoming U.S. citizens.

“This is one of the greatest countries in the world and the best place to live,” Rajagopalan said. “We’ve been in the process of becoming citizens for eight years. We’re excited to be citizens and to be able to vote in the next election as well.”