Lenny Skutnik, 1982
Lenny Skutnik, who jumped into the Potomac River to save one of the passengers aboard an Air Florida jetliner that had crashed there on January 13, 1982, receives applause during Ronald Reagan's State of the Union address on Jan. 27, 1982.
Trevor Ferrell, 1986
Nancy Reagan attends the State of the Union address with Trevor Ferrell, Richard Cavioli ,Shelby Butler and Tyrone Ford, Feb 2, 1886. With the help of his family and local churches, 13-year-old Ferrell delivered food and blankets to the homeless in Philadelphia.
Kristin Tanner, 1997
Kristin Tanner, an eight grader at Field School in Northbrook, Ill., stands after being introduced during President Clinton's State of the Union Address Tuesday, Feb. 4, 1997, at the Capitol. Tanner was among several Illinois students who tested near the top in the Third International Math and Science Study.
Rosa Parks, 1999
First Lady Hillary Clinton exchanges kisses from Rosa Parks prior to President Bill Clinton's State of the Union address on Capitol Hill, Jan. 19, 1999, in Washington. Clinton invited the Civil Rights icon as a guest while he sought support for his Initiative on Race.
Sammy Sosa, 1999
First Lady Hillary Clinton (L) applauds major league baseball player Sammy Sosa, Jan. 19, 1999, during President Clinton's State of the Union address. Months earlier, the Cubs slugger broke Roger Maris' record for the most home runs.
Hermis Moutardier, 2002
Hermis Moutardier, at right in a sling, attends President Bush's State of the Union address, Jan. 29, 2002. In December 2001, Moutardier and another flight attendant subdued Richard C. Reid, who tried to detonate a shoe bomb aboard their Paris-to-Miami flight.
Janet Norwood, 2005
First lady Laura Bush, right, applauds as Safia Taleb al-Suhail, leader of the Iraqi Women's Political Council, back to camera, hugs Janet Norwood of Pflugerville, Texas, on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Feb. 2., 2005. Norwood's son, Sgt. Byron Norwood, was killed in Iraq in Nov. 2004.
Dikembe Mutombo, 2007
Houston Rockets center and Congolese native Dikembe Mutombo acknowledges the crowd during President Bush's State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 23, 2007. Mutombo raised $29 million to build the African country's newest hospital in 40 years.
Irvin Mayfield, 2008
Irvin Mayfield (2nd row: 2nd from left) attends President Bush's State of the Union speech on Jan. 28, 2008. After losing his family in Hurricane Katrina, the jazz trumpeter was named cultural ambassador for the City of New Orleans by Congress.
Leonard Abess Jr., 2009
Leonard Abess Jr. gives a thumbs up at President Obama’s speech on Feb. 24, 2009. In the wake of the financial crisis, the bank president cashed out of his company, took a $60 million bonus, and gave it all to 471 current and former employees.
Raymond Joseph, 2010
The Ambassador to Haiti, Raymond Joseph (center with white hair) attends President Obama's State of the Union speech on Jan. 27, 2010. Joseph helped Haiti with its first democratic election in 1990 and championed post-earthquake reconstruction.
Daniel Hernandez, 2011
Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' intern, Daniel Hernandez, listens to President Obama's State of the Union Address on Jan. 25, 2011. Hernandez is credited with saving Giffords' life after she was shot in the head during a constituent meet-and-greet at a Tuscon grocery store.
First Lady Michelle Obama receives applause prior to the start of President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech Jan 24, 2012 in Washington. Among the attendees is Admiral William McRaven who commands the Joint Special Operations Command and is credited with executing Operation Neptune's Spear, the specials ops raid that
... led to the death of Osama bin Laden. MORE