GALVESTON, Texas — There were plenty of dignitaries at The San Luis Salute Ball at the Galveston Island Convention Center on Friday night, but the big, big ovation went to retired NASA shuttle commander Mark Kelly and his wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords.
More than a year ago, Giffords was battling for her life after being shot in the head by a gunman while attending a congressional event in Tucson, Ariz.
While the recovery has a way to go, Giffords has been attending more public events.
Kelly and Giffords — along with Kelly’s twin brother, Scott — have been regular fixtures at The San Luis Salute. The ball contributes $100,000 to University of Texas Medical Branch departments each year.
The couple is close friends with Landry’s owner and CEO Tilman Fertitta and his wife, Paige, who host the ball each year.
With Giffords still in the hospital, Kelly attended last year’s event, too, but brought along one of his wife’s nurses.
The talk of this year’s event was that Giffords was on hand for the party. She didn’t stay for the entire event, but stayed long enough to enjoy the food and some of the music.
Security was tight around the head table where Giffords and Kelly sat, along with the Fertittas, state Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, and his wife, Melissa, state Sen. John Whitmire, medical branch President Dr. David L. Callender and Scott Kelly.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Galveston Daily News.
