"It's probably the most exciting day of my whole life."

From the Chicago Tribune:

Twelve hours before the gates were to open, about 30 people, mostly college students, were forming a line about 8:30 a.m. on Congress Parkway for the Barack Obama Election Night rally.

The first two were brothers Tom Kreiglstein, 28, and Dan, 29, who arrived Monday night at 7:30 p.m.

The brothers, who live in Wrigleyville, noted the historic nature of the event, adding that a close family friend had helped organize one of the first Martin Luther King rallies in Chicago.

"We have that history in our family. So when we got tickets, it was like coming full circle," said Dan Kreiglstein.

The brothers took turns sleeping inside the lobby of the Congress Hotel until 5:30 a.m., when they met Joe Musselman, 24, who became the third person in line.

Behind them was South Sider Alnita Tillman, who brought her 16-year-old daughter, Raven.

"It was important to bring her here because I want her to be able to tell her children and my grandchildren about this historic moment," Tillman said. "She can see what she can be," she said.

"I feel really great today," said Raven, an honor student at Lincoln Park High School. "It's probably the most exciting day of my whole life."