Mysterious Sleeping Boy at State of the Union Identified
President Obama’s last State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday night didn’t kick off until nearly 9:15 in Washington, D.C. — a bit late for at least one member of the audience. By the time the commander in chief wrapped up at the podium around 10:25 p.m., 4-year-old Logan Barritt was sound asleep on his dad’s shoulder.
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The youngest VIP officially invited to the address, Logan was invited by House Speaker Paul Ryan in recognition of his fundraising to send Christmas gifts to U.S. soldiers overseas. Last year, the preschooler from Milton, Wis. (Ryan’s congressional district), had emptied his own piggy bank and rallied his community to raise more than $1,300 for the gifts — showing that “kids can be heroes too,” as Ryan said.
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The Barritts in the audience at the State of the Union. (Photo: AP Photo)
The honoree’s parents told Fox News that Logan’s do-gooding started simply, with “some pocket change from Grandpa,” according to mom Becky Barritt. Instead of putting the money away, she explained, “He said he didn’t want to put it in his piggy bank. … He wanted to give it to the soldiers, because their job’s not very fun. So he wanted to give them something fun.”
Dad Nick Barritt admitted, “I didn’t believe him at first. You don’t expect to hear that out of a 4-year-old.” The parents supported their son, though, and shared his idea on Facebook. Their community jumped in to help, and soon the 4-year-old was able to assemble 17 packages to send deployed soldiers “filled to the brim” with things that the servicemen and women had requested, said Becky. Not to mention some “fun” things too. Logan bragged, “There was cars and Pez dispensers!”
Logan Barritt visiting with a soldier. (Photo: AP Photo)
But Logan was tuckered out by the end of the address. President Obama wrapped up his speech around 10:25 p.m. In the audience, the suited-up preschooler was snapped, adorably, snoozing.
It had been a busy week already at that point, after all. When the Barritts flew to D.C. from Wisconsin on Sunday, Nick shared on Facebook, “Flight went great. National zoo was fantastic. Logan has been a trooper all day without a nap.”
Top photo: MSNBC
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