Former Army staff sergeant Clint Romesha, who was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama on Monday, has declined First Lady Michelle Obama’s invitation to attend the State of the Union address in Washington.
Romesha told CNN that he would instead be spending the evening with his wife – their wedding anniversary is Tuesday – along with friends from his former unit and their families.
Romesha, 31, is the fourth living person to receive the honor for service in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to NBC News. At the White House ceremony Monday, an official citation was read. It said, in part:
Staff Sergeant Clinton L. Romesha distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Section Leader with Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy at Combat Outpost Keating, Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on October 3rd, 2009.
(Photo: AP)
