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President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stand during a presentation oft he Color Guard and the playing of the national anthem Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State commemorating foreign policy achievements. White House photo by Eric Draper

President George W. Bush is introduced by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the U.S. Department of State Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, during a ceremony commemorating foreign policy achievements. White House photo by Eric Draper

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left, presents President George W. Bush with a memento displaying the flags of European nations that entered NATO during his time as president, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, during a farewell ceremony at the State Department in Washington

President George W. Bush, left, applauds his wife, first lady Laura Bush after she received an award at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009.

President George W. Bush speaks at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. Listening, from second from left are, first lady Laura Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.

President George W. Bush places the Presidential Medal of Freedom to U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker during a ceremony Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, at the U.S. Department of State to commemorate foreign policy achievements. White House photo by Eric Draper

President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush applaud as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker acknowledges the audience after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, during a ceremony to commemorate foreign policy achievements at the U.S. Department of State. White House photo by Eric Draper

First Lt. Lou Allen's family attended a reception at the White House on Thursday, Jan. 15. Allen's widow, Barbara, attended with their four sons, Trevor, Colin, Sean, and Jeremy, who had their photo taken with President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Allen's parents, Robert and Vivian, and his sister Laurene Sandstrom also attended. President Bush gave them all gifts. The boys were thrilled to meet him," Sandstrom said. "He gave all of us a hug and kiss when we were introduced. We also got to bring our cameras to take pictures of everything but the President." Those photos were taken by a professional photographer. Lou Allen died in Iraq in June 2005. He was a native of Chester and a science teacher in Tuxedo, N.Y.

1st Lt. Allen's sons with Vice President Dick Cheney

1st Lt. Allen's sons with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice