First lady Michelle Obama waves on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, prior to the start of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. Also sitting in the first lady’s box from front left are Obama, Brianna Mast, Jill Biden and Sgt. Brian Mast. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)For Brian Mast, it was a long journey to the U.S. Capitol.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Army sergeant climbed to a seat alongside First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden to watch President Obama’s State of the Union address.
“That’s Brian. He’s my hero,” said Shawn Ramseur, a Signal Mountain resident and Mast’s sister.
Mast served as a bomb technician while deployed to Afghanistan until injuring an arm and losing both legs in an improvised explosive blast in September. He underwent extensive rehabilitation.
While training with Special Forces, Mast visited his sister, three nieces and nephew on Signal Mountain.