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Boston Marathon bombing Survivors invited to State of the Union
Boston Marathon bombing Survivors invited to State of the Union

Boston Marathon bombing Survivors invited to State of the Union

Survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing and openly gay NBA player Jason Collins have been invited to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, the White House said on Monday.

A statement named Collins and Boston survivors Carlos Arredondo and Jeff Bauman among the first round of invitees to watch Tuesday’s address in First Lady Michelle Obama’s box.

“Oh my goodness what an honor,” Arredondo said.

Arredondo and his wife Melida were at the finish line and rushed in when the bombs went off on Marathon Monday, coming to the aid of Bauman. Bauman ended up losing both his legs, but not his life, thanks in part, to Arredondo.

That’s what prompted the invite by the President. The duo will join four others in the presidential box during the address, all of whom illustrate various issues the president will be addressing.

The guests were told they’d have a few minutes with the president following the address. That’s when Arredondo wants to tell the President about the trauma still suffered by marathon survivors.

He also wants to talk with him about military-related suicides. His youngest son, Brian, took his own life in 2011 after struggling to come to terms with his older brother’s death in Iraq seven years earlier.

“Since the first family is very supportive of veterans and family issues, we figured it’s a good segway for us to at least mention it in their ears,” said Melida.

She and Bauman’s girlfriend will be watching the speech from the first family’s private movie theater at the White House.

Agencies/Canadajournal




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