Tucson News NowLocal veteran special guest at State of the Union

Local veteran special guest at State of the Union

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By Paige Hansen - email
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -

It has been a busy week in Washington, from Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' resignation, to the State of the Union address. Giffords invited a special guest, Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage.

He's back in Tucson tonight after his trip to our nation's capitol and is sharing his story only with KOLD News 13.

Kolfage first met Gabby in 2006 at Tucson's Veterans Affairs office. "She helped me with so many things," Kolfage said. "Then she asked me to do a commercial for her political ad."

Brian, happy to show his support, agreed and shared his tragic story in the ad a few years ago. He describes a rocket attack in Iraq that happened September 11, 2004. Brian was in his second deployment in Iraq when an insurgent attack cost him his legs, and most of his right arm.

"I think there were 20 rocket attacks that day," he said. "I got hit by the first one."

Brian says Gabby would always ask how it was he got by, with an infectious smile, no less, as a triple amputee.

"Patience," he said.

Now, as Gabby works full time to recover, patience is a virtue she'll undoubtedly need.

This week, at the State of the Union, Gabby received applause from both sides.

"Gabby her spirit and just everything that's going on," Kolfage said. "She can bring all sides together."

And Brian, got to see that firsthand.

"I can guarantee you that the emotion in the room was 100 times stronger than what anyone saw on TV," he said.

Gabby asked Brian to be her special guest at the State of the Union.

"It was more of an event of Gabby to me than actually the State of the Union," he said.

Brian says she's the same, happy Gabby. "I joked around with her because she has a hard time using her right hand and her right leg," Brian said. "I was like 'We're both lefties now' and she laughed."

Laughter. It's what they'll both tell you helps them in their recoveries.

Photos courtesy of Brian Kolfage.

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