Press Releases

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, MI-02, announces two 2^nd District residents who will be attending tonight’s State of the Union: U.S. Marine Sgt. Cory Gritter of Graafschap, MI, will join Huizenga as his guest. Bryan Ritterby, of Holland, Michigan, will be seated with the First Lady.

Gritter, a decorated Marine, enlisted in 2005 after graduating from Holland Christian High School. Service is a family tradition: his father, Don, is a U.S. Navy veteran who was recalled to service after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Cory’s older sister, Amber was an Army medic in northern Iraq.

In Oct. 2009, while Cory was serving in Afghanistan with the Scout Sniper Platoon from the 3^rd Battalion, 4^th Marines, an IED detonated beneath their vehicle and wounded him. A second blast killed his fellow Marine, Lance Cpl. Cody Stanley, who Gritter credits with saving his life. Everyone in their group was injured. Gritter lost his left calf muscle and is missing several bones in his right wrist. Shrapnel hit him everywhere except his body and head, because he was wearing a flak vest and a helmet. He is currently receiving treatments at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.

“I search out every opportunity to thank our service members and veterans. Cory’s service to our nation is greatly appreciated, and his story is a reminder that we must continue to serve our military and veterans when they return home, as they have so selflessly served us. It is an honor to be joined tonight by a true American hero from the 2^nd District,” Huizenga said.

The second attendee, Ritterby, has a story like many Michiganders from Holland to Detroit, who lost his job while Michigan suffered the longest sustained highest unemployment in the country. Ritterby learned to adapt and in short order got a new job after learning new skills through a retraining program with Energetx Composite, an offshoot of Tiara Yachts.

“The stories of Ritterby and Tiara Yachts encompass the West Michigan values we hold near and dear: both embraced innovation and took lemons and made lemonade in a poor economy,” Huizenga said. “After the economic downturn affected manufacturing and eventually tourism, mainstays of the West Michigan economy, Tiara Yachts invested to create new opportunities for employees like Mr. Ritterby. I’m glad the President and the country has taken note. Like we highlighted on our Entrepreneur and Innovation Tour this summer, there are many more innovative, locally-grown and supported West Michigan ideas out there that are opening the doors to growth and jobs in the area.”

The State of the Union begins tonight at 9 p.m.

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