WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- More than 20,000 National Guard troops are helping to secure the U.S. Capitol ahead of the presidential inauguration.
The Maryland National Guard is among those who have a crucial component in ensuring the peaceful transfer of power.
"Things will be secure tomorrow," Maryland National Guard Cpt. Brendon Cassidy said. "I'm very confident. I don't know the future, but what I can tell you is a whole lot of planning has gone into this."
With just hours until the presidential inauguration, Washington D.C. is on high alert. The entire capitol complex is blocked off behind barbed wire and armed members of the military.
"Just making sure nothing too crazy happens in case Capitol Police or any law enforcement needs our help we are here," Maryland National Guard Spc. Matthew Angell said.
Security is heightened in Washington, D.C., one day ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Credit: Ava-joye Burnett/WJZSecurity is heightened in Washington, D.C., one day ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Credit: Ava-joye Burnett/WJZMembers of the Maryland National Guard play a role in keeping Washington, D.C., safe ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Credit: C.J. Alderson/WJZMembers of the Maryland National Guard play a role in keeping Washington, D.C., safe ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Credit: C.J. Alderson/WJZMembers of the Maryland National Guard play a role in keeping Washington, D.C., safe ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Credit: C.J. Alderson/WJZWASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 17: Maryland National Guard Adjutant General Timothy Gowen, speaks with members of the Maryland National Guard deployed to the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. After last week's riots and security breach at the U.S. Capitol Building, the FBI has warned of additional threats in the nation's capital and across all 50 states. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES - 2021/01/19: Police and National Guard soldiers stop vehicles at a checkpoint near the U.S. Capitol Building on the day before the inauguration ceremonies for President-elect Joe Biden. As many as 25,000 armed National Guard troops are expected in DC due to threats of violent protests. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: A view of the the Supreme Court ahead of the inaugural ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on January 19, 2021 in Washington, DC. The inauguration will take place on January 20. (Photo by Susan Walsh-Pool/Getty Images)WASHINGTON, DC, USA - JANUARY 19: Police and National Guard soldiers at a checkpoint near the U.S. Capitol Building on the day before the inauguration ceremonies for President-elect Joe Biden, in Washington, D.C., United States, on January 19, 2021. (Photo by Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)WASHINGTON, DC, USA - JANUARY 19: Security measures are taken around Capitol building by National Guard soldiers on the day before the inauguration ceremonies for President-elect Joe Biden, in Washington, D.C., United States, on January 19, 2021. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: National Guard soldiers patrol the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial ahead of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris attending a national memorial for victims of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the eve of the presidential inauguration on January 19, 2021 in Washington, DC. The United States has now surpassed 400,000 COVID-19 deaths, since the first confirmed case of the virus in Seattle on January 2020. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Maryland National Guard members were among the first on the ground.
"Vigilance is of course one of the most critical roles that we're playing here," Cpt. Cassidy said. "Eyes on the street, eyes on anything inside and outside the fence."
The Maryland National Guard was deployed on the day of the insurrection. Their presence will remain in some form even after the inauguration.
Gov. Larry Hogan has declared a State of Emergency in Maryland leading up to the inauguration. He's coordinating with Washington D.C.'s mayor and the governor of Virginia to secure the region.
Another look at what we saw in D.C. today. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are coordinating to secure the 59th presidential inauguration.@GovLarryHogan@MurielBowser@GovernorVA have been participating in a joint effort to secure the region. @wjzpic.twitter.com/qA8ZduRHIh
Michael Greenberger, a homeland security expert with the University of Maryland, said the riots at the capitol served as a wake-up call.
"That is the silver lining of the trauma of January 6. We lost five lives, we could have lost more, but the advantage of it is it scared the wits out of everybody, and now enforcement systems to make sure
inauguration goes smoothly are on steroids," he said.
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