Retired Naperville nurse says attending State of the Union in person ‘an absolute memory of a lifetime’

A two-day trip to Washington, D.C., to watch President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address was an unparalleled adventure, retired Naperville nurse Cindy Mundell said.

Attending as the guest of U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, a fellow Naperville resident and Democrat, Mundell said Thursday she’s still overwhelmed by the experience.

“It was an absolute memory of a lifetime. I will never forget this as long as I live,” Mundell said.

Underwood, also a nurse, said in a news release that she chose Mundell because as a dedicated cardiac nurse with more than 36 years of service, she represents the best of the community.

It’s not everyday a constituent finds an invitation from their congresswoman in their email inbox, so Mundell initially thought her email or Underwood’s had been compromised.

“I called Underwood’s office and said I’m afraid your email has been hacked. They said no, it’s legitimate,” she said.

“I have not slept since I got the invitation. Honestly, it’s like winning the lottery,” she said.

For Mundell, the whirlwind trip was a chance to connect with people she’s admired.

“I met every congressperson that I ever wanted to meet there,” she said.

Mundell’s phone is filled with photos of her with members of the Illinois delegation and Democratic U.S. Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff, both of California.

Besides meeting people, a high point was sitting on couches and chatting with other guests in Sen. Richard Durbin’s office alongside Durbin, Underwood, Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Reps. Sean Casten, of Downers Grove, and Nikki Budzinski, of Springfield.

“They treated us (guests) as if we were the most important people in the Capitol,” Mundell said.

This visit was far different from the last time Mundell was in Washington in 1995, when the entire district was in lockdown following the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, she said.

During that trip, she was able to watch a case being debated in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in which then Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke, she said.

As far as the State of the Union, Mundell was impressed by the speech, describing it as one of the best she’s ever heard.

“I’m almost 72 years old, and I’ve never had a president in my lifetime accomplish so much,” she said.

Mundell said her seat in the gallery was to the left of first lady Jill Biden.

“I only saw her arrive because when we all stood, there were several taller people in front of me,” she said.

Her seat also was above Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who shouted throughout the address.

“I really got an earful of all her hollering,” Mundell said. “I was so embarrassed for the Republican Party that the media would focus on her instead of the more honorable members of the Republican Party.”

Mundell said she felt relieved and hopeful when the entire chamber — Democrats and Republics alike — stood during the speech.

“I did not expect anyone from the GOP to stand,” she said, suggesting the same unity could lead to more reaching across the aisle.

She loved watching government in action throughout the day as people constantly approached Underwood to talk about legislation, even with Mundell standing next to her, she said.

“Underwood is so respected,” she said. “I was just tickled to see the social networking going on.”

She even had a chance encounter in an elevator with embattled U.S. Rep. George Santos, R-New York, who is facing multiple investigations over his personal and campaign finances and lies about his resume and family background.

“I bit my tongue very hard. I didn’t want to embarrass the congresswoman,” she said.

While Mundell was silent, Santos did open his mouth, she said.

“He said, ‘Wow, it smells like somebody’s been smoking in the elevator,’” Mundell said. While the elevator did reek of cigarettes, it probably shouldn’t be a surprise since smoking is allowed in congressional offices, she said.

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