Biden's inauguration challenge is to unite America

me for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration will be "America United," an issue that's long been a central focus for Biden but one that's taken on added weight in wake of violence at U.S. Capitol last week.

In an anuncement shared first with Associated Press, Presidential Inaugural Committee said that me reflects beginning of a new national journey that restores soul of America, brings country toger, and creates a path to a brighter future.

In keeping with me of unity, committee also anunced that after he is officially inaugurated, Biden, Vice President-elect Harris, and ir spouses will lay a wreath at Tomb of Unkwn Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, and will be joined re by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and ir wives.

It will be one of Biden's first acts as president, and a show of bipartisanship at a time when national divide is on stark display.

focus on unity has characterized Biden's presidential run from start, and he's said repeatedly since winning White House he sees unifying country as one of his top priorities as president.

But scope — and urgency — of challenge Biden faces became even clearer this week after President Donald Trump sparked an armed insurrection at Capitol, spurred by his repeated attempts to delegitimize Biden's win.

Matw Costello, a lead historian with White House Historical Association, said closest comparison to riot would be both of Abraham Lincoln's inaugural addresses which happened before and during Civil War.

"If ever re was an opportunity for a president to reunce and deunce Confederacy, to deunce insurrection, to deunce people who decided to raise arms against United States government, he doesn't do it," Costello said.

"Lincoln calls for reconciliation, he alludes to this idea that all Americans are responsible for Civil War, t just South."

Security at Biden's Inauguration will be tight. National Park Service anunced Monday it would shut down public access to Washington monument until Jan. 24, citing threats surrounding inauguration.

"Biden has expressly asked Americans to stay home because of coronavirus pandemic. So you weren't going to see crowds, you weren't going to see parade," said Alexandra Jaffe, a national political reporter for Associated Press.

committee also anunced plans for a major public art display spanning multiple blocks of National Mall that will feature 191,500 U.S. flags and 56 pillars of light, to represent every U.S. state and territory.

After Biden asked Americans to stay home for his inauguration, "Field of Flags" is meant to represent American people who are unable to travel to Capitol to celebrate his swearing-in, according to committee.

Jaffe said artwork will be overcast by fences and armed guards protecting area for event.

"It's a pretty striking juxtaposition of what I think Biden would describe as hope of America and what America really has been for past couple of weeks," Jaffe said.

Trump himself is skipping Biden's inaugural, a decision Biden said was a "good thing," though Vice President Mike Pence and his wife plan to attend.

"(Pence) and his wife will be attending inauguration again in a show of bipartisan support for Joe Biden's legitimacy and in keeping with a peaceful transition of power that I think all Americans expect and that we want to see on Inauguration Day," Jaffe said.

It's t only COVID-era change to festivities. In keeping with crowd-size restrictions to slow spread of virus, Biden will have a significantly pared-down inauguration, with traditional activities like parade and inaugural balls moving to a virtual format.

But even as celebration itself will be smaller, inauguration officials are preparing a significant security presence in preparation for what may be more pro-Trump demonstrations across Washington.