THE STATE OF THE UNION : Usual Salute to a Hero Is Omitted
President Reagan, departing from his practice in recent State of the Union addresses, did not select an American hero to be singled out when he spoke Tuesday night to Congress.
“I think this year there were many heroes that the President wanted to honor,” White House spokesman Larry Speakes said. He said Reagan talked of “American heroes in very general and patriotic terms.”
Beginning with his first State of the Union address in 1982, Reagan has invited individuals to be seated with First Lady Nancy Reagan in the President’s box in the House gallery and has saluted them during his speech.
In 1983, he honored Lenny Skutnik of Lorton, Va., who played a role in the rescue of survivors of an Air Florida plane crash in the Potomac River. In 1984, he honored Sgt. Stephen Trujillo, who rescued wounded soldiers during combat in Grenada. Those honored last year included Tyrone Ford, a 12-year-old handicapped gospel singer.
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