Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Michael M. Johnston participated in the 56th Presidential Inauguration Jan. 20 as part of the largest ever contingent of National Guard members to serve in Washington, D.C.

More than 7,000 Army and Air National Guard members from 31 states and territories provided the 2009 Presidential Inauguration with military working dogs, consequence management planning, and ceremonial, logistics, and medical support through the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee. National Guard members also assisted local authorities with crowd management, traffic control, and emergency services operations.

The Armed Forces Inaugural Committee is established every four years by the Secretary of Defense as a joint service organization to coordinate military ceremonial participation and support inaugural events.

Johnston, an aircraft component repair supervisor, is a member of the 1st Battalion, 315th Aviation Regiment based in Hope Hull, Ala. The guard member has served in the military for 28 years.

He is the son of Mavis C. Johnston of Fairhope.

His wife, Katherine, is the daughter of Brannon Richardson of Wilmer, Ala. and Becky Chambliss of Chickasaw, Ala.

The guardsman graduated in 1982 from Fairhope High School.