Ed. Note: Tonight at 9 p.m. EST, the President delivers the State of the Union. Learn more about who’s in the First Lady’s box, our enhanced live stream presentation, opportunities to engage with Administration officials, or watch a new behind-the-scenes video.
I wrote yesterday about how proud I was to stand with the President and First Lady at the White House as we highlighted the efforts of the Federal government to support our nation’s military families. It was an honor to stand in the East Room and be surrounded by individuals who have dedicated themselves to serving our country. Today, I am particularly pleased to have two such special Americans join me as my guests at tonight’s State of the Union Address: Army Sergeant Brian Mast and his wife Brianna.
I met Brian and Brianna at one of my favorite events last year – the annual Thanksgiving dinner that my husband Joe and I host for wounded warriors and their families at the Vice President’s Residence. Joe and I are always filled with such gratitude for both the commitment and the enormous sacrifices made by the families who join us for this meal and at other events and meetings throughout the year. Families whose service to our country all too often goes unrecognized.
Last September, while Brianna was juggling the stresses of being a first-time mother with a deployed husband, Brian was seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan — losing both of his legs just below the knee and an index finger, while also suffering a broken arm and shrapnel wounds. Brianna moved from Michigan with her infant son, Magnum, to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to be by her husband’s side during his recovery. Day in and day out, Brianna has devoted herself to aiding her husband’s recovery while caring for their young son.
Fonte: White House