Fredericksburg Area Residents Brave Heat For First Lady Michelle Obama Tickets

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Andrella Hall got her two children up at 6 a.m. this morning to ensure they were ready to wait in line today to get tickets to see .

"I actually took a vacation day from work," said Andrella Hall, who commutes to Washington, D.C. for work. Her daughter, Denise, and son, Brandon, were with her in line. They got to the Obama re-election campaign headquarters at 1281 Central Park Blvd. at 8:30 a.m., 150 minutes before the doors opened at 11 a.m. putting them first in line.

Her daughter's birthday is on the same day of the first lady's visit.

"How many people get to say they see the first lady on their birthday?" Andrella Hall said.

Those waiting in line were allowed one ticket each and if they had the name and contact information for a second person for whom they wanted to get a ticket, then the campaign officials were providing a second ticket, but that was the maximum.

Jean Williams of Fredericksburg said she also got up early because she didn't want to be in the back of the line.

"I could see myself standing here for four hours and I was going to," she said.

Temperatures were in the mid 90s by the time the doors opened. People were sweating, some had chairs to sit on and a few used umbrellas or large hats for shade.

Stephanie Hein of Fredericksburg brought a case of water and shared it with strangers farther back in the line.

Elizabeth LeDoux and her 3-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, were among the last in line right before the doors opened. Her daughter had a piece of pink chalk to draw on the pavement as they waited to get tickets.

"She's been an Obama supporter since the beginning," Elizabeth LeDoux said. "She was 5-weeks-old when he was elected and we woke her up and said, 'We got you a great president!"

First Lady Michelle Obama is expected to get to Goolrick Hall at 6 p.m. and doors open at 2:30 p.m.

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