Leslie and Ron Cieslak, Roselle

Leslie Cieslak missed the party in Grant Park, but she's not missing the inauguration.

The 50-year-old Roselle woman pulled overtime duty on Election Day and remained as a pollwatcher, which caused her to miss Barack Obama's victory party in Chicago that night.

"My husband promised we could go to the inauguration since I missed the Grant Park event," she said.

Cieslak and her 68-year-old husband Ron received inauguration tickets through Rep. Melissa Bean's office and attended the Illinois Gala Ball Monday evening.

"This inauguration is a life-changing event and it is an incredible honor being able to attend it," Leslie Cieslak said.

Mike Childress, Bloomingdale | Lester Coney, Chicago