The inauguration will be an historical event, but many Augustans will not be able to travel to Washington to see it live.

There is an event of historical significance taking place only a few days before it as six Tuskegee Airmen will be in Augusta for the screening of a documentary by a local filmmaker.

"People can come see the history before the history," said Bryan Williams, of Augusta's Bryton Entertainment, who filmed an hour and 45 minute documentary on the Tuskegee Airmen

Williams and his team spent 18 months interviewing 17 of the original airmen including Lt. Col. Charles Dryden, who died in June. They traveled to several East Coast locales to interview the men.

He was inspired to produce the film after meeting retired Lt. Col. Alfonzo Jackson, Colon- Dryden Augusta Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. at a restaurant.

"We are a Christian video production company. We wanted to be more proactive," Williams said.

After shooting a gospel video one night, they went to a restaurant, and Jackson walked in wearing his Tuskegee Airmen Inc. insignia.

"We were saying 'We should do a documentary that shows the best of man, and Mr. Jackson came in,'" said Williams, who felt the meeting had divine providence.

Williams' documentary has an added dimension.

"We tell the enlisted men's story," said Williams. "Each Airman was an officer, but he had about 10 different enlisted guys who worked with him."

The documentary premiered in October at the grant opening of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama to rave reviews, he said.

The hometown premier will be at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 17, at the Imperial Theatre. The event will include the showing of the documentary as well as an opportunity to meet six of the Tuskegee Airmen. Tickets are $15.

Tickets are going quickly, he said.