The New York Times reports that “Staff Sgt. Spencer Stone of the Air Force was driving to work on a stormy morning a few days ago when a White House aide phoned with an invitation to join the first lady on Tuesday for President Obama’s last State of the Union address to Congress.”  

“He told the aide to call back later: ‘I didn’t want to crash and die in the bad weather.’”  

Military Times reports that “Naveed Shah never thought of himself as an immigrant until the day a teacher said he couldn’t become president.”  

“’I moved here when I was 2 years old, I became a naturalized citizen when I was about 8,’ the 28-year-old said. ‘So I never saw my background as different until I learned (in middle school) that to become president you had to be born here. It was weird, because I’m as American as it gets.’”  

“On Tuesday, the Virginia real estate agent and activist will get a little closer to the commander in chief’s seat, as a guest of the White House for the annual the State of the Union address. His story will be part of President Obama’s larger theme of optimism and opportunity in America today.”