Memories that will last a lifetime are under way in Sochi for some Chicago-area families.
NBC 5's Rob Elgas caught up with some of the families who were on their way to the Opening Ceremonies Friday.
"It's just incredible to be here with all these athletes," said Buffalo Grove's Tom Bozek, whose daughter, Megan, is on the US women's hockey team. "It's good to be here. You kind of get swelled up with all the pride."
The Bozek's are going to the ceremony, but they won't see their daughter. The U.S. women's hockey team is sitting out the festivities because they play Finland Saturday.
"They need to focus because they play tomorrow at noon, so I think it's a long time standing on their feet, the walking, the waiting behind the scenes I guess, so I think as a team they decided that was the best thing to do to not walk," Patty Bozek said.
Marcia and David Lehman of Oak Park scored some late tickets to the ceremony. Their son, Emory, made the long track speed skating team.
"It's just kind of hard to believe that you're in this kind of situation. Your 17-year-old kid is doing this, it's just, it's amazing. I think we're always going to pinch ourselves like wow," David Lehman said.
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But the Lehman's may also miss their child walking in the ceremony.
"It's a little bittersweet because our son Emory is in the 5k and he skates tomorrow, and so he's really struggling whether he'll skate in the procession," Marcia Lehman said.
