Tonight: President Obama Honors Iraq Veterans With "A Nation's Gratitude" Dinner; Guest List...UPDATED

UPDATE: CLICK HERE for links to the President's remarks, the menu, and other posts...
To pay a formal tribute to members of the US Armed Forces who served during the war in Iraq, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will welcome more than 200 guests to the White House this evening for the "A Nation's Gratitude" Dinner. The black-tie affair begins in the East Room at 8:20 PM. 78 US service members of all ranks, services, and backgrounds from the 54 states and territories and the District of Columbia will join the President and Mrs. Obama, selected to be "representative of the many thousands of Americans who served in Iraq" during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, according to the White House. Army Reserves and Coast Guard are included. There will be a livestream of part of the event at Whitehouse.gov/live, at the beginning of the dinner.

"The President looks forward to this," Press Secretary Jay Carney said on Tuesday.

"He is enormously appreciative of the sacrifice and service that the men and women in uniform who served in Iraq provided to their country. And obviously, some of them provided the ultimate sacrifice."

The guest list includes Gold Star family members, those who lost a loved one in the almost-nine-year war that officially ended in December of 2011. The President and Mrs. Obama will be seated at different tables, and Mrs. Obama will sit next to Kim Felts, a Gold Star wife from Fayetteville, NC. Her husband, Colonel Thomas H. Felts, Sr. passed away on November 14th, 2006 in Baghdad, when an explosive detonated near his vehicle. They had four children, and the two youngest, Rebekah and Thomas, now in high school, will also be seated with the First Lady.

Vice President Joe Biden, who visited Iraq eight times following the 2008 election, and Dr. Jill Biden will attend the dinner, as will Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the chiefs of the five branches of service. US Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the final commander of US Forces Iraq, is also on the guest list, as are the other commanders from the combat operations. President Obama made his first visit to Iraq as Commander in Chief in April of 2009.

Celebrating the end of a war with a formal White House dinner is a first for any presidential Administration. The Pentagon characterized the dinner as the equivalent of a State Dinner when first announcing the event, but it is less elaborate, while more solemn. In contrast to a State Dinner, there will be no formal arrival ceremony at the White House this evening, and no special musical entertainment, according to an East Wing spokesman. There will be a cocktail party before dinner, and a receiving line with the President and Mrs. Obama.

More than 100 guests received official invitations from the White House, and each was invited to bring a companion. Many of the 78 service members were wounded in combat, and/or were honored for valor. The Army has the most service members invited, followed by the Marine Corps. There are 14 women service members on the guest list, which was hand-picked by a senior panel of representatives from all five branches of service.

Openly gay service members are included, according to Pentagon spokesman Doug Wilson, to highlight the Obama Administration's achievement in ending the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

"Mrs. Obama wanted to make sure that the room that night represented the America that served in Iraq," Wilson said.

The First Lady and Dr. Biden lead the Joining Forces campaign to support and honor military families. The initiative will mark its first anniversary in April.

President Obama "will certainly be engaging with those in attendance at the dinner," Carney said.

"He looks forward to his encounters with the men and women who have served our Armed Forces very much."

About 1.5 million Americans served in Iraq, beginning in March of 2003. 4,475 Americans were killed, and more than 32,000 were wounded.

Below, an updated guest list from the Department of Defense, which includes the names of invited guests' companions. Below is the guest list of the 78 service men and women who were invited.

Full Guest List...

THE PRESIDENT and MRS. OBAMA

THE VICE PRESIDENT and DR. BIDEN

SGT Sarah M. Adams, Killeen, TX, and Captain William Messick, Belton, TX

Mr. Eric Alva, San Antonio, TX and Dustin L. Jones, Arlington, VA

Chaplain (Colonel) Daniel Ames, Joint Staff Chaplain, Alexandria, VA

T.H. Brooke Anderson, DAP & NSS Chief of Staff & Counselor, NSS, Washington, DC, and COL Steven Miska, Washington, DC

Major General Vaughn Ary, Alexandria, VA, and Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Ary, Alexandria, VA

General Lloyd J. Austin III, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Charlene D Austin, Washington, DC

SgtMaj Michael Barrett, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Andrews AFB, MD, and Mrs. Susan Marie Barrett, Andrews AFB, MD

SgtMaj Bryan Battaglia, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,Fort Myer, VA, and Mrs. Lisa Lynn Battaglia, Fort Myer, VA

LTC Beth Anne Behn, Cornwall on Hudson, NY, and Ms. Julianna Shappy, Cornwall on Hudson, NY

TSgt Christian A Bennett, Evansville, WI, and Mrs. Rachael M. Bennett, Evansville, WI

PO2 Lawrence Benson, Jr., Buffalo, NY, and Mrs. Stacey Benson, Bennettsville, SC

The Honorable (Major) Joseph Beau Biden III, Wilmington, DE, and Mrs. Hallie Biden, Wilmington, DE

The Honorable Antony Blinken, Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor, Office of the Vice President, Office of the Vice President, Washington, DC, and Ms. Bobbi Doorenbos, Washington, DC

MSgt Brian Blonder, Woodbury, TN, and Mrs. Maureen Porter, Missoula, MT

SMSgt Donnie Bolton, Colorado Springs, CO, and Mrs. Tracy Lynn Bolton, Colorado Springs, CO

PO1 Anthony Bozarth, Hampton, VA, and Mrs. Michelle Bozarth, Hampton, VA

MSgt Kevin Bullivant, Clinton, UT, and Ms. Kathleen Blanchard, Clinton, UT

General George W Casey, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Sheila L Casey, Alexandria, VA

CPO Joseph Castro, Williamsburg, VA, and Ms. Isiris Reyes Maldanado, Williamsburg, VA

SMA Raymond Chandler III, Sergeant Major of the Army, Fort Myer, VA, and Mrs. Jean Marie Chandler, Fort Myer, VA

PO1 Jay Choi, Virginia Beach, VA, and Mr. James Gregory, Statesville, NC

CAPT Charles B. Cooper, East Wing, Falls Church, VA, and Mrs. Susan Star Cooper, Falls Church, VA

CW5 David F. Cooper, Fayetteville, NC, and Mrs. Mary Catherine Cooper, Fayetteville, NC

SFC Miguel A. Cruz, Manitowoc, WI, and Mrs. Sheila Cruz, Manitowoc, WI

LT James Cullen, Portsmouth, VA, and Mrs. Kathleen Cullen, Lake Hopatcong, NJ

General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Fort Myer, VA, and Mrs. Deanie Dempsey, Washington, DC

Mr. Richard DeNoyer, National Commander, VFW, Middleton, MA, and Ms. Theresa D DeNoyer, Middleton, MA

Colonel Todd Desgrosseilliers, Stafford, VA, and Mrs. Christiana Desgrosseilliers, Stafford, VA

The Honorable Thomas Donilon, Assistant to the President, National Security Advisor, NSC, Washington, DC, and Ms. Cathy Russell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden, Washington, DC

SFC Sebastian K Ellis, Wilmington, DE, and Mrs. Christie Ellis, Wilmington, DE

Kim Felts, Family Readiness Program Specialist, U.S. Army Special Forces Command, Fayetteville, NC, and Mr. T.J. Felts, Fayetteville, NC (Son), and Ms. Rebekah Felts, Fayetteville, NC (Daughter)

Sgt Richard Fiske, Tappahannock, VA, and Mrs. Jennifer Lee Fiske, Tappahannock, VA

Mr. Matthew Flavin, Denver, CO, and Mr. Jonathan Fairbank Kuniholm, Durham, NC

SPC Janice Flores, Chalan Pago, GU, and Ms. Emily Blas, Washington, DC

SFC James Gaston, St. Croix, VI, and Mrs. Messelena Gaston, St. Croix, VI

Sgt John Gladstone, Woodbridge, VA SSG Jed Glover, El Paso, TX, and Mrs. Patricia Glover, El Paso, TX

1LT Paul S. Gonzalez, Derby, KS, and Mrs. Johanna Gonzalez, Derby, KS

Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Darleen Greenert, Washington, DC

GySgt Tawanda Hanible, Fredericksburg, VA, and Mr. Donald Hanible, Fredericksburg, VA

Captain Brian D Hartman, DeRidder, LA, and Mrs. Kelly Hartman, DeRidder, LA

SCPO Christopher Henderson, Chesapeake, VA, and Mrs. Marie Henderson, Chesapeake, VA

1stSgt Christina Huntshorsemay, Stafford, VA, and SSgt Joseph Robert May, Stafford, VA

Major Erik Jacobson, North Las Vegas, NV, and Mrs. Kristi Jacobson, North Las Vegas, NV

Sgt Nytayia Jamison, Stafford, VA, and Sgt David Lomeli Lopez, Stafford, VA

CMSgt Denise M Jelinski-Hall, Senior Enlisted Leader, National Guard Bureau, Andrews AFB, MD, and Mr. Gary Hall, Andrews AFB, MD

Lieutenant Benjamin J. Kostka, Virginia Beach, VA, and Mrs. Alicia Kostka, Virginia Beach, VA

SGT Joshua R Labbe, Sherman Oaks, CA, and Captain Kyle Brown, Carthage, NY

MSgt Shane Lacaillade, Warrensburg, MO, and Mrs. Christine Annette Lacaillade, Warrensburg, MO

MCPO Richard Lamoureux, Virginia Beach, VA, and Mrs. Carri Lamoureux, Virginia Beach, VA

MCPOCG Mike Leavitt, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, Arlington, VA, and Mrs. Debora Leavitt, Arlington, VA

Captain Yolanda Lee, Washington, DC, and Ms. Joyce Williams, Fort Washington, MD

The Honorable Jacob Lew, Chief of Staff, The White House, Washington, DC, and Ms. Shoshana Lew, Washington, DC (Daughter)

GySgt Deverson Lochard, Silver Spring, MD, and Dr. Cassondra Brown, Washington, DC

SFC Kyle Lyon, Clarksville, TN, and Mrs. Callie Lyon, Clarksville, TN

Cpl Aaron Mankin, San Antonio, TX, and Mrs. Diana Phelps, San Antonio, TX

MSG Peter Martinez, Alexandria, VA, and Mrs. Henrietta Martinez, Alexandria, VA

The Honorable Denis McDonough, Deputy Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff, NSC, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Karin McDonough, Takoma Park, MD

General Craig R McKinley, Chief, National Guard Bureau, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Cheryl McKinley, Washington, DC

Captain Stephen McNeil, Stafford, VA, and Ms. Maribel Lebaron, Stafford, VA

RDML Frank Morneau, Millersville, MD, and Mrs. Susan Morneau, Millersville, MD

Colonel Peter Newell, Woodbridge, VA, and Mrs. Vianne Newell, Woodbridge, VA

CW4 John T Nikolao, Fort Campbell, KY, and Mrs. Gina Nikolao, Fort Campbell, KY

General Raymond T Odierno, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Linda Odierno, Fort Myer, VA

The Honorable Leon E Panetta, Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense, Washington, DC, and Lt. General John Kelly, Washington, DC

Admiral Robert Papp, Jr., Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Bolling AFB, DC, and Mrs. Linda Papp, Bolling AFB, DC

Major Jennifer Parker, Woodbridge, VA, and Major Brian McLean, Woodbridge, VA

Ms. Angela M. Peacock, Saint Charles, MO, and Mr. Jason D. Hansman, Tacoma, WA

MSG Jorge H. Perez, Fountain, CO, and Mrs. Stacey Perez, Fountain, CO

SSgt Andrew Piirainen, Roy, UT

SSgt Harry Prassenos II, King George, VA, and Mrs. Kelly Prassenos, King George, VA

Major Carter Price, Fort Knox, KY, and Mrs. Tricia Mae Price, Fort Knox, KY CW5 Kevin Purtee, Austin, TX, and

Ms. Michele Rene Tumino, Austin, TX SSG Anthony Ranfos, Frankfort, OH, and

Ms. Billy Jean Specht, Richmond Dale, OH

CSM Ronald T Riling, Huntsville, AL, and Mrs. Melinda Jean Riling, Huntsville, AL

PO3 Max Rohn, Longmont, CO

CMSgt James Roy, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Andrews AFB, MD, and

Mrs. Paula Roy, Joint Base Andrews, MD

Mr. Donald Samuels, National Commander, DAV, Gallatin, TN, and Mr. Arthur Henry Wilson, Venice, FL

Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, San Antonio, TX, and Mrs. MarieElena Garza Sanchez, San Antonio, TX

LCpl Steven Schulz, Friendswood, TX, and Debbie Schulz, Friendswood, TX

General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Fort Myer, VA, and Mrs. Suzie Schwartz, Fort Myer, VA

The Honorable Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Patty Shinseki, Washington, DC

Major Eldridge R. Singleton, Chula Vista, CA, and Mrs. Kimberley L. Singleton, Chula Vista, CA

SSgt. J. Smith, Crestview, FL, and Mrs. Kerry Ann Smith, Crestview, FL

Colonel Stephanie C. Smith, Vienna, VA, and Lieutenant Colonel Tony Bumgarner, Vienna, VA

SSgt Rebekka Spanglerloch, Stafford, VA, and GySgt Nicholas Spanglerloch, Stafford, VA

SFC Robbi A. Stanton, Fountain, CO, and Mrs. Brittany P. Stanton, Fountain, CO

SSG Benjamin N Straubel, Hermon, ME, and Mrs. Robyn Lynn Straubel, Hermon, ME

Sgt Clara Surita, Plantation, FL, and SGT Lauren Mahealani Manuel, Savannah, GA

Colonel David Sutherland, Alexandria, VA, and Mrs. Bonnie Sue Sutherland, Salem, OH

Major John Tate, Fort Leavenworth, KS

Cpl Kyle Taylor, Woodbridge, VA, and Ms. Nicole Marie Taylor, McDonough, GA

Major Shannon Thompson, Madison, AL, and Mrs. Jamie Thompson, Madison, AL

PO2 TerryLee Thompson, Waldorf, MD, and Mr. William S. Thompson, Waldorf, MD

MSG William C Tomlin, Glen Burnie, MD, and Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Tomlin, Glen Burnie, MD

Major Matthew Tracy, Newport, RI, and Mrs. Mary Tracy, Newport, RI

SSG Shawon Tucker, San Antonio, TX, and Mr. Jermaine Jones, New York, NY

CPO Bradley VanHorn, Bowie, MD, and Mrs. Valerie VanHorn, Bowie, MD

CW4 Nelson Visaya, Hawaii, and Mrs. Brenda Visaya, Hawaii

SSG Jesse Wandling, Hopkinsville, KY, and Mrs. Silke Wandling, Hopkinsville, KY

Lieutenant Colonel Steve Warren, Alexandria, VA

MCPON Rickey West, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Arlington, VA, and Mrs. Bobbi West, Arlington, VA

Sgt Leslieanne Wilkinson, Dumfries, VA, and Mr. Robert Hanus, Detroit, MI

Mr. Douglas Wilson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Rehoboth Beach, DE, and Ms. Tamara Haddad, President, Haddad Media, Washington, DC

Major Brian Wobensmith, Stafford, VA, and Mrs. Kim Alyssa Wobensmith, Stafford, VA

Commander Fang Wong, National Commander, American Legion, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Barbara Lam Wong, East Brunswick, NJ

Ms. Christine Wormuth, NSS, Washington, DC, and Ms. Deanna Wormuth, Falls Church, VA

SGT Heather N. Wunderlich, Lincoln, NE, and Mr. Jeremie Ellis Wunderlich, Lincoln, NE
##

The Guest List of Service Men and Women...
The Pentagon paid the travel expenses for service members flying in to Washington from distant posts, as well as for a one-night hotel stay. The names, ranks, and branch of service for the 78 service members invited are listed below, by home state. Texas has four service members; Tennessee, Maine, Michigan, and Massachusetts have three; Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Georgia, Colorado, New York, Minnesota, and New Hampshire each have two.

Alabama: Staff Sgt. Shawon Tucker; Army

Alaska: Maj. Shannon Thompson; Army

American Samoa: Chief Warrant Officer 4 John Nikolao; Army

Arizona: Capt. Brian D. Hartman; Army

Arkansas:
Cpl. Aaron Mankin; Marine Corps
Staff Sgt. Joseph May; Marine Corps

California: Maj. Eldridge R. Singleton; Army

Colorado:
Sgt. John-Mark Gladstone; Marine Corps
Petty Officer 3rd Class Max R. Rohn; Navy

Connecticut: Master Sgt. William Tomlin; Army

Delaware: Sgt. 1st Class Sebastian K. Ellis; Army

District of Columbia: Capt. Yolanda Lee; ARNG

Florida: Master Chief Petty Officer Richard D. Lamoureux; Navy

Georgia:
Staff Sgt. J.H. Smith; Air Force
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West; Navy

Guam: Spc. Janice Hernandez Flores; ARNG

Hawaii:
Chief Master Sgt. Denise Jelinski-Hall; ANG
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nelson A. Visaya; Army

Idaho: Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Mike Leavitt; Coast Guard

Illinois: Gunnery Sgt Tawanda M. Hanible; Marine Corps

Indiana: Master Sgt. Jorge H. Perez; Army

Iowa:
Lt. Col. Beth Behn; Army
Staff Sgt. Jesse Lee Wandling; Army

Kansas:
Chief Petty Officer Joseph Castro; Coast Guard
1st Lt. Paul S. Gonzalez; Army

Kentucky: Senior Chief Petty Officer Christopher J. Henderson; Navy

Louisiana: Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia; Marine Corps

Maine:
Master Sgt. Jeremy G. Coombs; Air Force
Master Sgt. Shane Lacaillade; Air Force
Col. Todd Scott Desgrosseilliers; Marine Corps

Maryland: Maj. Brian E. Wobensmith; Marine Corps

Massachusetts:
Staff Sgt. Andrew Piirainen; Air Force
Gunnery Sgt. Deverson Lochard; Marine Corps
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler; Army

Michigan:
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy; Air Force
Master Sgt. Jessica R. Coombs; Air Force
Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald J. Riling; Army

Minnesota:
Staff Sgt. Benjamin N. Straubel; ARNG
Maj. John Michael Tate; Army

Mississippi: Staff Sgt. Harry Prassenos; Marine Corps

Missouri: Maj. Jennifer S. Parker; Marine Corps

Montana: Sgt. 1st Class; Kyle B. Lyon; Army

Nebraska: Sgt. Heather N. Wunderlich; ARNG

Nevada: Maj. Erik J. Jacobson; Air Force

New Hampshire:
Staff Sgt. Anthony J. Ranfos; Army
Capt. Stephen M. McNeil; Marine Corps

New Jersey: Rear Adm. Frank Morneau; Navy

New Mexico: Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry; Army

New York:
Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Micheal Barrett; Marine Corps
Col. Stephanie C. Smith; Marine Corps

North Carolina: Petty Officer 1st Class Jay Ho Choi; Navy

North Dakota: Sgt. Richard Fiske; Marine Corps

N. Marianas Islands: Staff Sgt. Leslieanne Wilkinson; Marine Corps

Ohio: Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Cooper; Army

Oklahoma: Maj. Gen. Vaughn A. Ary; Marine Corps

Oregon: Sgt. Sarah Adams; Army

Pennsylvania: Petty Officer 2nd Class; Lawrence Benson; Coast Guard

Puerto Rico: Staff Sgt. Miguel Cruz; Army

Rhode Island: Sgt. Joshua R. Labbe; Army; PA

South Carolina: Sgt. Nytayia D. Jamison; Marine Corps

South Dakota: 1st Sgt. Christina Hunts Horse-May; Marine Corps

Tennessee:
Petty Officer 1st Class Anthony H. Bozarth; Navy
Master Sgt. Brian M. Blonder; Marine Corps
Senior Master Sgt. Donnie Bolton; Air Force

Texas:
Staff Sgt. Eric Alva; Marine Corps
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kevin Purtee; ARNG
Lance Cpl. Steven Schulz; Marine Corps
Petty Officer 2nd Class TerryLee Thompson; Navy

Utah:
Master Sgt. Kevin T. Bullivant; ANG
Sgt. 1st Class Robbi A. Stanton; Army

Vermont: Col. Peter Newell; Army

Virgin Islands: Sgt. 1st Class James Gaston Sr.; ARNG

Virginia:
Cpl. Kyle L. Taylor; Marine Corps
Chief Petty Officer William Castro; Coast Guard

Washington: Chief Petty Officer Bradley A. VanHorn; Navy

West Virginia: Maj. Carter L. Price; Army

Wisconsin: Tech. Sgt. Christian Bennett; ANG

Wyoming: Staff Sgt. Rebekka Spanglerloch; Marine Corps

*Updated

*Photo at top by Pete Souza/White House; the President and Mrs. Obama pose for a portrait in the State Dining Room, ahead of the first Governors Dinner in February 2009.