Meet Anthony Mendez, a Guest of the First Lady at the State of the Union

Ezra Mechaber
Ezra Mechaber
January 19, 2015
07:15 AM EST

Anthony Mendez is joining the First Lady as a guest at the 2015 State of the Union address on January 20. Watch it live at 9 p.m. ET at WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU.

Anthony Mendez

ANTHONY MENDEZ

Anthony Mendez became the first member of his family to graduate from high school -- and not without overcoming countless obstacles on his path to success.
 
Anthony grew up in the South Bronx with his mother and three siblings. In ninth grade, his best friend was shot in his neighborhood. One year later, Anthony's family was evicted, and they moved into a homeless shelter.
 
But none of that kept Anthony from completing his high school education. After moving into the homeless shelter, he would get up at 4:30 a.m. for six months to get to school on time -- telling kids at school that he was staying  with an aunt.
 
When he met the First Lady after receiving his diploma last summer, Anthony told his story, saying that he's learned to be proud of his past.
 
Anthony has reason to be proud of his future, too: He's now a freshman at the University of Hartford where he plans to study Political Science.

Related Topics: State of the Union, Maryland, Texas

Meet Larry Merlo, a Guest of the First Lady at the State of the Union

David Hudson
David Hudson
January 19, 2015
07:15 AM EST

Larry Merlo is joining the First Lady as a guest at the 2015 State of the Union address on January 20. Watch it live at 9 p.m. ET at WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU.

Larry Merlo

LARRY MERLO

Last year, CVS Caremark President and CEO Larry Merlo announced that CVS would be the first major retail pharmacy to eliminate tobacco sales in all of its stores. Soon after, the company changed its corporate name to CVS Health -- a symbol of the organization's broader commitment to public health.

Through its 7,800 retail pharmacies, 900 walk-in medical clinics, and a pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 65 million plan members, CVS Health serves 100 million people each year. The company also trains pharmacy technicians through apprenticeship programs, offers scholarships to future pharmacists, and engages diverse students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers.

CVS Health has also established programs to hire long-term unemployed workers and create summer jobs for youth, and has a longstanding commitment to hiring qualified veterans and military spouses.

Merlo, a pharmacist by education, joined CVS/pharmacy in 1990, and currently lives in East Greenwich, Rhode Island with his wife of 36 years, Lee Ann.

Related Topics: State of the Union, Rhode Island, Texas

Meet Alan and Judy Gross, Guests of the First Lady at the State of the Union

Tanya Somanader
Tanya Somanader
January 19, 2015
07:15 AM EST

Alan and Judy Gross are joining the First Lady as a guest at the 2015 State of the Union Address on January 20. Watch it live at 9 p.m. Eastern at WH.gov/SOTU.

Alan Gross

"It's good to be home." 

On December 17, 2014, Alan Gross took a flight back to the United States. That flight, on Air Force One, was five years in the making. 

An employee of USAID, Alan had been working in Cuba to help increase Internet acces and connectivity when he was wrongfully imprisoned in December of 2009. While serving an unjust 15-year prison sentence in a Cuban prison, Alan wrote President Obama letters describing his plight. 

Last month, the President announced to the world that the U.S. was changing its relationship with the people of Cuba, the most significant changes in policy in more than 50 years. Part of that new course included Cuba's release of 53 political prisoners, including Alan.

So last month, Alan flew on Air Force One back to the U.S. and into the arms of his wife Judy, who had been fighting every day for Alan's release and never gave up hope. Today, Alan and Judy are reunited in Washington, D.C., spending time with their daughters and friends. "What a blessing to be a citizen of the United States of America," he said upon his return. "Thank you President Obama for everything you have done." 

The State of the Union 2015: Everything You Need to Know:

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Meet the First Lady's Guests at This Year's State of the Union:

David Hudson
David Hudson
January 19, 2015
07:15 AM EST

President Obama is delivering the 2015 State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 20. Watch it live at 9 p.m. ET at WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU.

Each year for nearly three decades, the First Lady has invited people to sit in her viewing box and watch the President deliver his State of the Union address at the Capitol. These guests exemplify the themes and ideals that the President lays out in his address.

Those sitting with the First Lady this year include a teenager from the South Side of Chicago, an astronaut going on a year-long mission to the International Space Station this spring, and a woman who was able to have her brain tumor removed thanks to the Affordable Care Act. 

Watch as the guests receive their phone calls inviting them to sit in the First Lady's box tomorrow:

Watch on YouTube

Below is the full list of the remarkable individuals that will sit in the box with Mrs. Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett.

Related Topics: State of the Union, Maryland, Ohio, Texas

Meet Astrid Muhammad, a Guest of the First Lady at the State of the Union

Lindsay Holst
Lindsay Holst
January 19, 2015
07:15 AM EST

Astrid Muhammad is joining the First Lady as a guest at the 2015 State of the Union Address on January 20. Watch it live at 9 p.m. Eastern at WH.gov/SOTU.

Astrid Muhammad

Astrid Muhammed

"I am a wife and mother to two young children, ages six and ten. I am recovering and alive because I had insurance."
 
Astrid Muhammad, 39, wasn't insured at the time of her brain tumor diagnosis in May of 2013 -- and her necessary treatment ended up being delayed as a result. But it could have been far worse:
 
Prior to the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies could have refused treatment for her pre-existing tumor altogether. That didn't happen. Last year, Astrid enrolled in insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace with the help of an authorized BlueCross/BlueShield agent. And on August 28, fully insured, she had the surgery she needed to remove her tumor -- a surgery her neurosurgeon confirmed saved her life. All of her medical bills have been covered thanks to her insurance.
 
In a letter she wrote to the President in November of this past year, Astrid shared her gratitude and new lease on life, writing that she would love to shake his hand and thank him. 
 
Tomorrow night, she'll have that chance.
 
 

The State of the Union 2015: Everything You Need to Know:

Related Topics: Higher Education, Jobs, College Affordability, Economy, Education, State of the Union, Working Families, Florida, Michigan

Meet Scott Kelly, a Guest of the First Lady at the State of the Union

Tanya Somanader
Tanya Somanader
January 19, 2015
07:15 AM EST

Scott Kelly is joining the First Lady as a guest at the 2015 State of the Union Address on January 20. Watch it live at 9 p.m. Eastern at WH.gov/SOTU.

Scott Kelly

Imagine carrying out hundreds of scientific and research experiments, every day, for a year ... in space. 

For American astronaut Scott Kelly, that will soon be his reality. In March, this resident of Houston, Texas will launch to the International Space Station and become the first American to live and work aboard the orbiting laboratory for a year-long mission.

Not only will he be conducting studies on cutting-edge technology development, he and his crew will compare medical data from Scott and his twin brother astronaut Mark Kelly to see how the human body responds over time in space. This research will help move our country forward toward President Obama's goal of sending humans to Mars by the 2030s. 

An astronaut since 1996, Scott has logged more than 180 days in space and has served as both pilot and commander on space shuttle missions, including a long-duration mission on the International Space Station. So he should feel right at home. 

The State of the Union 2015: Everything You Need to Know:

Related Topics: State of the Union, Texas

Meet Malik Bryant, a Guest of the First Lady at the State of the Union

David Hudson
David Hudson
January 19, 2015
07:15 AM EST

Malik Bryant is joining the First Lady as a guest at the 2015 State of the Union address on January 20. Watch it live at 9 p.m. ET at WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU.

Malik Bryant

MALIK BRYANT

A lot of kids write letters to Santa Claus when December rolls around, telling him what they want to see under the Christmas tree on December 25. They'll often ask for new toys, video games, clothes, or even pets.

But this past Christmas, 13-year-old Malik Bryant from Chicago wrote Santa with a very different request.

"All I ask for is for safety," he wrote. "I just wanna be safe."

Malik's neighborhood of Englewood has one of the highest rates of violent crime in Chicago. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Malik's mother explained how he isn't always able to leave his house and go hang out with his cousins, "because he has to cross gang lines and walk past all these gang members on some of those blocks. And all he ever hears on the news about our neighborhood is shootings, gangs and violence."

When a local non-profit organization came across Malik's letter, they did everything they could to get it to the White House. And they were successful: A couple of days after Christmas, Malik received a letter in the mail, signed by President Obama.

In his reply, the President told Malik that his "security is a priority for me in everything I do as President." He also encouraged Malik, telling him that "If you dare to be bold and creative, work hard every day, and care for others, I'm confident you can achieve anything you imagine. And I will be rooting for you."

Related Topics: State of the Union, Texas

Inviting Guests to the First Lady's Box at the State of the Union

January 19, 2015 | 1:52 | Public Domain

Americans from across the country receive a phone call inviting them to sit in the First Lady's box at the 2015 State of the Union Address.

Download mp4 (63MB)

Meet Ana Zamora, a Guest of the First Lady at the State of the Union

Tanya Somanader
Tanya Somanader
January 17, 2015
08:00 AM EST

Ana Zamora is joining the First Lady as a guest at the 2015 State of the Union Address on January 20. Watch it live at 9 pm ET here: www.whitehouse.gov/sotu  

Ana Zamora

Ana Zamora

“As I write this letter, my heart pounds and tears roll out of my eyes as I remember all the sacrifices my parents have made through the years to procure me a better future.”

This September, Ana Zamora, a 20-year-old college student from Dallas, Texas, sat down at her desk to write a letter to her President. “My parents brought me to the United States before my first birthday, 20 years ago,” she said. “As with any other dreamer, my parents came to this country with a dream of a better future for their children.” 

This is the only country Ana has ever called home. So when the President took action to give children who grew up in the U.S. temporary status in 2012, she was overjoyed.  “I am finally a person in the United States,” she wrote the President. “I have a social security number, an employment authorization card and a driver’s license to drive the car I pay for with my own money (which I earned working with my employment authorization card) and pay taxes as any law-abiding U.S. citizen. I could not be more proud of myself!!!" 

Ana’s life has fundamentally changed. And because she has siblings who are U.S. citizens, her parents -- a small business owner and a construction worker -- are among the millions of people who are potentially eligible for the new Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program the President announced last November. Now, Ana plans on going after a masters degree in business administration while helping to mentor  students in situations just like hers. “The United States is my country,” she wrote. “It is where I grew up, took my first steps, learned to read, write, play, graduated from high school, and will graduate from college.” 

The State of the Union 2015: Everything You Need to Know

Related Topics: State of the Union, Texas

Meet Staff Sergeant Jason Gibson, a Guest of the First Lady at the State of the Union

Tanya Somanader
Tanya Somanader
January 17, 2015
08:00 AM EST

Staff Sergeant Jason Gibson is joining the First Lady as a guest at the 2015 State of the Union Address on January 20. Watch it live at 9 pm ET here: www.whitehouse.gov/sotu  

Jason Gibson

Staff Sergeant Jason Gibson

When the President first met Staff Sergeant Jason Gibson in 2012, Jason wasn’t quite sure who was in the room. A native of Westerville, Ohio, Jason had sustained traumatic injuries while serving his country in Afghanistan and was at the beginning of his long road to recovery at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda. So when the President walked in, he never quite registered who his visitor was and “was more concerned with who was this stranger hugging my wife.” 

In October, after 21 surgeries and years of recovery, Jason wrote a letter to thank the President for his visit and  to deliver a small piece of wisdom: “There is life after a traumatic event and good can come of all things.” As a soldier whose injuries cost him both of his legs and any chance of using prosthetics, Jason refused to dwell on what he couldn’t do, but tackle what he always wanted to -- wheelchair or no wheelchair. As of today, he has surfed, downhill skied, kayaked, fished, done a little bit of hunting, and even raced in 4 marathons on a hand cycle. Because that’s not enough to satisfy him, he also earned his pilot license last summer.   

Now back home in Ohio, Jason and his wife Kara are living in a house built by a non-profit that is especially designed for his needs. In this new home, Jason and Kara are embarking on their greatest adventure yet -- parenthood. On November 21, 2014, they welcomed a baby girl, Quinn Leona Gibson, into the world. “You have to push yourself and not dwell on the negatives,” he wrote the President. “Life is what you make of it.”    

Related Topics: State of the Union, Ohio