Rep. Maloney Invites Astoria Resident and Afghanistan War Veteran Robert Song to Join Her at State of the Union Address

Astoria, NY – U.S. Army veteran and Astoria resident Robert Song will be in the audience tomorrow night as President Obama delivers his 2012 State of the Union address.  U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Queens, Manhattan) invited Song, who served our country in Afghanistan, to attend the address to thank him for his service to our nation.  Maloney joined a group of House members, led by Reps. Marcia Fudge of Ohio and Tim Walz of Minnesota, who invited veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to this year’s address, as a show of Congress’s solidarity in support of our nation’s veterans.

Song graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2003 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.  Song served in the Army from 2004 to 2008 -- during that time, he helped patrol the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  From 2008 to 2010, Song served in the 69th Infantry Battalion of the New York National Guard.  In 2010, Song began medical school at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.  Song also interned in Congresswoman Maloney’s New York and Washington offices.

“Robert’s tremendous accomplishments at such a young age are a remarkable credit to him and his family.  Robert exemplifies the courage, patriotism, and professionalism of all our men and women in uniform – and I know he will be an outstanding representative of his fellow veterans at the State of the Union address,” Maloney said.

“It was a pleasure to work with Robert in both my Washington and New York offices, and it was obvious to me and my staff that he would continue to do great things with his life.  I wish him the best as he finishes medical school and furthers his career in public service as a physician.”

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