Airman at State of Union address

  • Published
  • By Thom Robinson
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. (AFPN) --  Staff Sgt. Clinton Smith, of the 11th Security Forces Squadron at the Pentagon, was pleased and surprised with the additional temporary duties he assumed Jan. 20.

Two months ago, Sergeant Smith was serving his country by performing security-forces duties while deployed in Iraq. On Jan. 20, he was serving his country while seated in the chair just behind first lady Laura Bush inside the chamber of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol. This was all during a joint session of Congress, while the president of the United States delivered this year's State of the Union address to the nation.

"It was all so amazing,” Sergeant Smith said. “Usually, I just watch American history occur but there I was in the middle of it all. It was truly an honor to be a part of it, and I am grateful to those who picked me to participate."

In the days leading up to the address, the military services with troops stationed in the National Capitol Region were asked to screen and select sharp enlisted personnel to be representatives of their services at the event. Unknown to those who were finally selected, backgrounds and careers were being researched and those servicemembers who made the "clearance cut" were notified just a few days in advance of the address.

Sergeant Smith said his phone rang "out of the blue" several times over the weekend. The first time it was the protocol officer from the Air Force chief of staff’s office. Another call came from the secretary of defense protocol office, and finally from a White House protocol officer, all checking and re-checking his credentials.

"I said, 'Yes, sir!' 'Yes, sir!' and 'Yes, sir!' to the three calls and then I was briefed on some of the details and logistics," Sergeant Smith said. "On (Jan. 20), my counterparts and I met at the Pentagon and then traveled to the White House together (before) the president's speech. The people we met there were kind and friendly, and everyone made us feel welcome and proud to be serving our country."

While at the White House, Sergeant Smith and some of the other servicemembers who participated had the opportunity to meet and speak with several dignitaries. Some of the people they met included Andrew Card, White House chief of staff; Alma Powell, wife of Secretary of State Colin Powell; several members of Congress; and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

The Secret Service had told the sergeant he would likely be escorting the first lady arm-in-arm to her chair; however, at the last minute a representative from the Iraqi Governing Council was selected to escort her to her seat instead. Sergeant Smith followed them in and was seated directly behind the first lady for the duration of the presidential address.

Following the State of the Union address and the ceremonial exit of dignitaries from the legislative hall, Sergeant Smith and his sister-service counterparts attended a brief reception where they chatted with the first lady and others, were photographed, and met briefly with President Bush. The president thanked them for their service to America and for their attendance and participation in the evening's activities.

"It was almost overwhelming," Sergeant Smith said. "Being selected to represent the airmen of the Air Force, sitting in the Capitol at a joint session of Congress and then having a personal conversation with the commander in chief and the first lady, it was an incredible experience! Every day is a great day to be an American, but this day was very special to me and it's a day I will never forget."

Sergeant Smith has a little more excitement to look forward to because the White House routinely sends its guests portrait-quality photographs of visits with the president and first lady. Also, as the sergeant was leaving the Capitol, a CNN reporter told Sergeant Smith he had been broadcast on national television and that the network would send Sergeant Smith a courtesy copy of the video clip.

These special mementos and his unique personal memories are sure to become treasured souvenirs of his tour at the 11th Wing and that night in 2004 when he played a brief part in American history.