Gregory Slater of Waukegan becomes emotional during the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Slater was attending an Inauguration luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Perry Pullum of Waukegan listens to President Barack Obama's Inauguration speech during a luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Rose Peters of Zion raises her hands while watching the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Peters was attending an Inauguration luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

LaDwyina Slater of Waukegan wipes tears from her eyes while watching the Inauguration of President Barack Obama at a luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Heidi Nunn of Winthrop Harbor listens to President Barack Obama's Inauguration speech during a luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Shiloh Baptist Church Pastor Walstone Francis of Waukegan applauds President Barack Obama after his swearing-in ceremony while attending an Inauguration luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

NAACP of Lake County assistant secretary Randal Riley of Waukegan watches the Inauguration of President Barack Obama during a luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Gregory Slater and his wife, LaDwyina, of Waukegan applaud for President Barack Obama while attending an Inauguration luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Felicia Cleveland of Waukegan watches the Inauguration of President Barack Obama during a luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Anne Gass (left), Jaqueline Gass and Austin Gass, all of Zion, watch the Inauguration of President Barack Obama during a luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Taylor Blake, 9, and her mother, Aimee, of Johnsburg watches the Inauguration of President Barack Obama during a luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik. | Sun-Times Media file

Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County President Arthur Gass of Zion leads the Pledge of Allegiance at the Inauguration luncheon held at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

The Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County hosted a luncheon for the Inauguration of President Barack Obama at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Marsha Bowles of Zion waves an American Flag with her granddaughter Makayla Bowles, 6, of Zion while watching the Inauguration of President Barack Obama during a luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Cynthia Springfield of Waukegan claps her hands and smiles while watching the Inauguration of President Barack Obama at a luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Patricia White of Waukegan waves an American Flag while watching the Inauguration of President Barack Obama at a luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media

Makayla Bowles, 6, of Zion and a first grade student at Kenneth Murphy School in Beach Park, waves an America Flag while watching the Inauguration of President Barack Obama during a luncheon hosted by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media