On the eve of her last day of Congress, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was honored Tuesday night ahead of President Obama's State of the Union address. As the congresswoman entered the House chamber, members of Congress gave her a standing ovation while chanting "Gabby! Gabby! Gabby!"

President Obama later hugged and kissed Giffords as entered the chamber and made his way down to the podium.

Giffords was seated between fellow Arizona Reps. Jeff Flake, a Republican, and Raul Grijalva, a Democrat. The seat was left empty last year for the congresswoman, as she was recovering from being shot in the head just weeks before outside a Tucson supermarket. 

Giffords announced her resignation from Congress on Sunday. The congresswoman resigned to focus on her recovery from a gunshot wound sustained to the head during a deadly shooting rampage a "Congress At Your Corner Event" on January 8, 2011. Six people were killed and 13 were wounded in that attack.

Wednesday will mark her last day in office.

USA Today reported:

On Wednesday, she will vote on her final piece of legislation, a bipartisan bill she introduced with Flake to impose tougher penalties on drug smugglers who use ultralight aircraft to transport their illicit goods into the United States from Mexico.

Shortly after the vote, she will turn in her resignation letter, her office said Tuesday. A special primary election will be held this spring, most likely in April, to begin the process of filling her seat.

Giffords will end her resignation letter with these words: "Every day I am working hard. I will recover and will return and we will work together again for Arizona and for all Americans."

Giffords husband Mark Kelly was also in attendance at Tuesday's State of the Union address. The former astronaut was seated between First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden.