War heroes were among the many distinguished guests invited to attend President Trump's State of Union Address.
The event took place on Tuesday, January 30th, 2018 at 9pm in the chamber of the United States House of Representatives.
Corporal (Ret.) Matthew Bradford was among many of the veterans invited to attend the President's State of Union Address. He is the first blind, double amputee to re-enlist in the Marine Corps.
"He has inspired Kentucky and he will inspire the nation"
Representative Andy Barr, Kentucky, tweeted: "Very proud that my National Security Fellow, Corporal (Ret.) Matthew Bradford, @bionikmatt5, will attend the #SOTU as a special guest of @realDonaldTrump & @FLOTUS.
He has inspired Kentucky and he will inspire the nation #NolegsNoVisionNoProblem."
Corporal Bradford joined the United States Marine Corps after leaving high school in 2006 to serve in Iraq.
In 2007, he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED), which shot into both of his eyes and blinded him. The explosion also removed both of his legs.
He rejoined the Marine Corps after numerous surgeries and therapy.
Elizabeth Alvarado, Robert Mickens, Evelyn Rodriguez, and Freddy Cuevas also attended the President's State of Union Address. Ms Rodriguez and Mr. Cuevas were the parents of Kayla Cuevas. Ms Alvarado and Mr. Mickens were the parents of Kayla's friend, Nisa Mickens.
Kayla and Nisa had been close friends since elementary school, but in September 2016, they were murdered whilst being chased down.
Their deaths were among a string of seventeen Long Island slayings that have been attributed to Mara Salvatrucha, commonly referred to as MS-13.
Cajun Navy 2016 founder Jon Bridgers also attended Trump's State of Union Address. He established Cajun Navy 2016 as a non-profit rescue and recovery organisation to respond to flooding in Louisiana.
Last year, it provided aid to those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Cajun Navy helped thousands of people across the South. To this day, they continue to collect resources and donations for those who lost their homes.
David Dahlberg, a fire prevention technician in southern California, was another guest invited to watch Donald Trump's speech.
In July 2017, he saved sixty-two children and staff members from a wildfire that encircled their camp near Pine Canyon Fire Station in the Santa Lucia Ranger District, where he was based.
One notable guest included Staff Sergeant Justin Peck. His colleague, Chief Petty Officer Stacy, was struck by an IED on the second floor of a hospital building and severely wounded.
Staff Sergeant Peck applied a tourniquet, placed an endotracheal tube, and performed artificial respirations and CPR, which helped save Officer Stacy's life.
Two beneficiaries of the President's tax reform bill were also present. President Steve Staub and Vice President Sandy Kepingler of Staub Manufacturing Solutions, a contract manufacturing company specialising in metal fabrication founded in 1998, have seen a rise in sales and employment since the bill was passed.
They have expanded their team from twenty-three to thirty-seven employees over the last year and acquired a new building. They gave their employees larger than expected Christmas bonuses due to Donald Trump's tax cuts.
The founder of the Flag and Flower Challenge, Preston Sharp, watched the President's speech. Mr. Sharp has organised the placement of more than forty thousand American flags and red carnations on soldiers' graves.
His scheme is designed to respect veterans in all fifty states and to challenge others to join the Flag and Flower Challenge, after being inspired by a lack of flags and flowers on veterans' graves when visiting his grandfather's grave in 2015.
"AG Landry praises the President for recognizing these special Louisianans."
Louisiana Department of Justice's Attorney General, Jeff Landry, tweeted: "Local heroes chosen by @POTUS as Special Guests of the President and @FLOTUS at the State of Union; AG Landry praises the President for recognizing These Special Louisianans."
