Franklin Resident, George King III is on his way to Washington for President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
King's 1916 Model T Ford World War I ambulance was one of 63 vehicles selected to be a part of the procession in the inauguration parade on Jan. 21.
"This is the most accurate and most interesting project I’ve ever been a part of," King said.
King spent years building and researching the historical recreation of the ambulance.
"We constructed the body out of the exact same materials that were used by the Kellner carriage works, including importing $4,000 worth of mahogany from the Ivory Coast of Africa," King said. "It's important to do the job right. This is the only ambulance of its kind in the country."
King said he hoped the ambulance recreation would send a message about the importance of volunteerism and American volunteer ambulance drivers around the country; a mission that caught the attention of First Lady, Michelle Obama.
"Michelle Obama gave a number of commencement addresses stressing volunteerism and at that time we were building the ambulance, so I wrote her a letter applauding her and she wrote me back," King said. "So, last week I was able to write her that we had been selected and we'd be there."
George King will leave for D.C. on Jan. 20 to prepare for the parade.
Photo Credit: AP