Named for Lenny Skutnik, the savior of a drowning jetliner passenger whose aircraft crashed into the Potomac River in 1982, these (mostly) heroic folks have been mainstays of the annual State of the Union address since Ronald Reagan started the tradition with Skutnik three decades ago.
31 Years of Skutniks: A Brief History of Special Guests at the State of the Union Address
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Nancy Reagan attends the State of the Union address with Trevor Ferrell, Richard Cavioli, Shelby Butler and Tyrone Ford, Feb 2, 1986. With the help of his family and local churches, 13-year-old Ferrell delivered food and blankets to the homeless in Philadelphia.
