Denise Martin and her daughter Kristian Harris prepare packages, games and gifts for the passengers who have paid $180 to ride the 'Barack-o-bus Tour' to the inauguration to watch the swearing in. They do not have tickets and will go to the mall to see the event on a big screen.
"I want to be there. I don't have to be next to him but I want to feel the thrill, the excitement, and the love - because there's a lot of that coming out - of being there for him and I want him to know that all of us support him and I'm one of them," said Martin.
It was Harris' idea to put the tour together and make it available. Her children, Rommel and Alexis, will be going on the tour along with other family members, friends and others.
"We are all going to share and celebrate this monumental, historic event when. My son was younger I promised him that he was going to be able to run for the first black president. And so that dream is gone but he still could be president," said Harris.
The bus leaves on Monday a little after noon. The passengers will be greeted with Obama hats. They range in age from five to 80 years old. The trip will take 36 hours. For the passengers, it will be the trip of a lifetime.
Their North Side home is filled with Obama memorabilia. They even made special Christmas ornaments with the Obama family on display. A life-size cardboard cutout of the president-elect is with them at all times.
"He's a vision of hope and what things America can achieve. We've been in a bad place for a while and he's rejuvenated the world," said Harris.
