Local vet invited to State of the Union

It's an invite of a lifetime. A local soldier is trading his camo gear for black tie.

Midfield native Noah Galloway has been invited as a guest to the State of the Union speech next week in DC.

Getting to this point, however has held it's challenges. "I don't remember any of it. When the explosion happened I was unconscious and I didn't wake up until five days later," said Galloway.

On his second deployment to Iraq, Galloway's unit was hit by a roadside bomb. The explosion caused his to lose his left arm and leg.

Galloway said, "I immediately thought, well, I'm done. You know, if you're a physical person and then two of your limbs are gone, it's hard to imagine how you would bounce back from that."

But he did.

"I look back, it's almost funny to me to think of how depressing it was initially because now I look at it and I tell all the people all the time I wouldn't change anything that's happened," said Galloway.

His dedication and sacrifice to his country is now being paid forward.

Last week, he received an email from Congressman Spencer Bachus inviting him to the State of the Union speech.

"As soon as I read you know, I couldn't help but think you know when these senior congressman of Alabama invite you to hear the State of the Union address by the president you don't turn it down," said Galloway.

Bachus is among other state representatives encouraging their colleagues to invite veterans as their guests.

Alongside Galloway will be his 7-year-old son. He says he's not nervous but does worry about one thing, "As long as you know my son doesn't do anything crazy I think we'll be good. That's the only concern that I have is making sure he understands that we've got to be quiet for a little while," said Galloway.

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