Durbin Continues Tradition of Hosting Illinois Service Members for Tomorrow's State of the Union

Press Release

In what has become an annual tradition, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) will host an Illinois service member or veteran as his guest for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Major Gerry Sharp -- a Buffalo Grove, Illinois native and Northern Illinois University graduate -- has served in the United States Army for twenty-six years. In his current position as Director of the Warrior and Family Coordination Cell at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Major Sharp coordinates efforts to support Wounded Warriors and their families at Walter Reed. Major Sharp will also attend the Secretary of the Senate's dinner immediately preceding the President's address.

Durbin has invited Illinois service members or veterans who have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as his guests to the State of the Union since 2005 when he hosted Army Major Tammy Duckworth. Before the Secretary of the Senate's dinner, Durbin will hold a private meeting with Major Gerry Sharp who is the 18th Illinois service member or veteran that Durbin has hosted for the State of the Union.

"Major Sharp has dedicated his life in service to his country," Durbin said. "He has served in the United States Army for more than two decades, and has deployed in two separate conflicts, first as a radio officer and then as a combat nurse. Major Sharp is now using those experiences to address his fellow soldiers' ongoing, unseen wounds of war in his position as Director of the Warrior and Family Coordination Cell. I am honored to have Major Sharp join me tomorrow night at President Obama's final State of the Union."

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