What an amazing, but difficult recovery. Tremendous courage from Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who appeared at a public event for  the first time since being shot in the head in a Jan. 8 attack in her home district of Tucson, Ariz.

The Arizona Democrat entered the auditorium at Space Center Houston to a standing ovation, ABC News reports, where her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, was set to receive his Spaceflight Medal for his recent trip on Space Shuttle Endeavor.

ABC's Gina Sunseri reports that Giffords rose from her wheelchair to offer her husband a congratulatory kiss and hug in front of the crowd of hundreds to whom she smiled and waved. The medal is awarded for participation in a space flight mission. Giffords reportedly smiled and interacted with those sitting around her.

This marked the first time Giffords appeared at a public event since the January shooting.

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