A Pearl River County native will be setting the stage for The President’s Own Marine Band to perform at Tuesday’s Presidential Inauguration.

Pearl River Central High School graduate and U.S. Marine Sgt. Ronnie Davis III is assigned to The President’s Own Band and he will be fulfilling his duty as a stage crew member today, a behind the scenes responsibility that keeps the band performing.

Getting the band ready to perform at the 56th Presidential Inauguration is an exciting time for Davis, he said. He is not just excited that history will be made Tuesday when Barack Obama takes office, he said black or white, any time a new president takes office is exciting.

Davis said that after he graduated from high school in 2001 he did some work with a local air conditioning company for two years before joining the Marine Corps. He then participated in three overseas combat tours, one in Afghanistan and two in Iraq. He was assigned to The President’s Own Marine Band in August of 2007 where he now sets up the sound equipment the band needs to perform.

After all that time overseas Davis said his new assignment affords him more time with his family. Performances are conducted by the band on a weekly basis from January to April. In the summer months, two performances a week are conducted by the band.

“It really picks up during the summer,” Davis said.

The President’s Own Marine Band performs for the president whenever he calls and wherever he is he may be, Davis said.

Within the next two years Davis said he plans to start working towards becoming a drill instructor for the Marines.