Three John Deere tractors provided by Landmark Equipment of Chambersburg, Carlisle and Hagerstown, Md., will pull key floats in Tuesday’s Inaugural parade in Washington, D.C.
Landmark Vice President Dave Quirple made the announcement at a press conference in Hagerstown.
“They wanted John Deere equipment because John Deere is headquartered in Illinois, the home state of incoming President Barrack Obama,” said Quirple, of Maryland. “We are excited to have our equipment in this parade for all to see.”
Quirple and Landmark partner Dan Place of Mercersburg will drive two of the tractors. Both men passed Secret Service security checks.
The tractors will pull the Illinois float — the historic American Flag float representing the new president’s home state, which is appearing in its fourth Inaugural parade -- and a float sponsored by the USO that carries a horse-drawn fairy-tale carriage and Miss America.
The tractors were delivered from Hagerstown to Hargrove, Inc. in Lanham, Md., Thursday. The tractors represent three different models and have a total list price of $118,452. The models have a range of horsepower from 48 to 101.
“Our thanks, and the thanks of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, go to Landmark Equipment for donating the use of the tractors,” said Tim McGill, CEO of Hargrove Inc., an event, trade show and custom exhibit company. Earl Hargrove designed seven of the floats that appear Tuesday.
Landmark Equipment and its predecessors have been the John Deere dealer in Hagerstown, Chambersburg and Carlisle since the 1950s.
