The Canadian Press

CALGARY — A Calgary woman will be in U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's inauguration parade, riding on a float for which she was asked to design and create costumes.

"I'm just blown away," said Wendy Partridge.

"I think to be a part of this, or to be a witness to this historic event, is just thrilling. There are no words to describe it really."

Partridge has designed hundreds of costumes for Hollywood. When the curator of the Lincoln Highway National Museum saw her work in the movie "Passchendaele", he contacted her to create the First World War army uniforms for the museum's parade entry.

The entry will include a fire truck and army personnel wearing uniforms Partridge has replicated from 1919.

"The buttons and the badges have all been reproduced. They were done in China and we got them two days ago. The medals, everything has been reproduced. They all are exactly like the originals."

In total, Partridge has created 37 uniforms and an Abraham Lincoln costume.

Partridge is not being paid for her work, and estimates the cost of her time, material, and labour at about $40,000.

Partridge and her husband will ride on the fire truck along with parade veteran Mickey Rooney on Jan. 20, the day Obama is sworn in.

The Obamas are expected to watch the parade from a bullet-proof observation stand and about five million people are expected to line the parade route in Washington, D.C.

The uniforms were to be shipped to the U.S. capital on Monday, and the Partridge family will follow later in the week.