Local Couple Special Guests Of First Lady For State Of The Union

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- When President Obama last spoke to Congress, he struck a sober note on growing job losses and economic challenges.

"We don't quit. I don't quit," the President said a year ago.

While some things are better today, the President faces political challenges with a Republican-controlled House of Representatives under a new Speaker, John Boehner.

Obama is likely to strike a hopeful note by commending some of the nation's heroes, including one man from Somerset County.

"It is definitely an honor to be invited by the President and the First Lady to attend the State of the Union address," Brandon Fisher told KDKA Political Editor Jon Delano.

Fisher and his wife, Julie, will sit with the First Lady in the House gallery.

"In the heroic work that Brandon and his company did down in Chile speaks to what's great about America, what's best about our country, and the kind of ingenuity and big thinking that will insure that America stays number one in the world," White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer told Delano.

Fisher's western Pennsylvania company, Center Rock Inc., designed the drill bits that bore through more than 2,000-ft. of hard rock to rescue the 33 Chilean miners last fall and Fisher himself spent more than a month in Chile on the rescue.

"This whole mining rescue experience -- it was truly a great humanitarian effort by a lot of people," says Fisher.

Other heroes sitting with the First Lady include Dr. Peter Rhee and intern Daniel Hernandez credited with saving Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' life.

"I am anxious to meet a lot of these folks that are invited. Some wonderful people are going to be joining us," says Fisher.