Former Chapel Hiller at speech

An East Chapel Hill High School graduate will be among two dozen guests sitting with First Lady Michelle Obama at tonight's speech before a joint session of Congress.

Marine Sgt. John E. Rice, who was born in Bethesda, Md., and lived part of his childhood in Chapel Hill, graduated from high school there in 2003, Barb Barrett reports.

He went on to attend the University of Maryland and join the Marines, training at both Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He deployed to Iraq in April 2008 and was injured last July when a landmine exploded while he was on foot patrol.

Rice now resides in Bethesda, where he is being treated for his injuries.