Widow returns to celebrate 'bittersweet' inauguration with her son

In 1993, Jack and Rubina Oremus took their 3-month-old son John to the inauguration of President Bill Clinton. With no strollers allowed, strangers crowded in the standing room section around them took turns holding the baby to give the couple a break during the ceremony.

Four years later, the couple attended Clinton's second inuaguration, with 4-year-old John in tow again.

Now, Rubina and her 16-year-old son John, of west suburban Wayne, have returned to Washington for today's inauguration, but this time will be very different. They will go without Rubina's husband Jack, who died in a car accident in 1997.

As owner of Prairie Material, a construction company in Bridgeview, Jack Oremus had been a big contributor to Clinton. His father also had political connections as a longtime mayor of Bridgeview. But today, the family no longer has such close political ties, and Rubina did not have tickets to the Obama celebration.

Because her son supports Barack Obama avidly, she wrote a letter to Sen. Dick Durbin, explaining the situation. Touched by her story, the senator sent her a pair of tickets.

"We're so excited to be there to witness history," Rubina Oremus said.

The two also have tickets to the Southern Ball, which Obama is expected to attend.

Oremus will wear a blue gown. She rented her son a tuxedo, and maybe they'll share a dance as she and her husband did, 12 years and a short lifetime ago.

Her husband had looked forward to taking their son back to Washington someday. The setting will be filled with memories of the family being together in happy times.

"It's bittersweet," Rubina said, "but I'm glad I'm able to let my son have the opportunities he had when his dad was here."