[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 102 (Monday, July 27, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9032-S9040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE MEMORY OF DETECTIVE JOHN MICHAEL GIBSON AND PRIVATE FIRST
CLASS JACOB JOSEPH CHESTNUT OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, on behalf of myself, the Democratic leader,
and the entire Senate membership, I send a Senate concurrent resolution
to the desk regarding the fallen U.S. Capitol policemen. And I ask
unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to its immediate
consideration, and ask that the clerk read the resolution in its
entirety.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the clerk will report and
read the concurrent resolution.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 110) honoring the
memory of Detective John Michael Gibson and Private First
Class Jacob Joseph Chestnut of the United States Capitol
Police for their selfless acts of heroism at the United
States Capitol on July 24, 1998.
Whereas the Capitol is the people's house, and, as such, it
has always been and will remain open to the public;
Whereas millions of people visit the Capitol each year to
observe and study the workings of the democratic process;
Whereas the Capitol is the most recognizable symbol of
liberty and democracy throughout the world and those who
guard the Capitol guard our freedom;
Whereas Private First Class Jacob ``J.J.'' Chestnut and
Detective John Michael Gibson sacrificed their lives to
protect the lives of hundreds of tourists, staff, and Members
of Congress;
Whereas if not for the quick and courageous action of those
officers, many innocent people would likely have been injured
or killed;
Whereas through their selfless acts, Detective Gibson and
Private First Class Chestnut underscored the courage, honor,
and dedication shown daily by every member of the United
States Capitol Police and every law enforcement officer;
Whereas Private First Class Chestnut, a Vietnam veteran who
spent 20 years in the Air Force, was an 18-year veteran of
the Capitol Police, and was married to Wen Ling and had five
children, Joseph, Janece, Janet, Karen and William;
Whereas Detective Gibson, assigned as Rep. Tom Delay's
bodyguard for the last three years, was an 18-year veteran of
the Capitol Police, and was married to Evelyn and had three
children, Kristen, John and Daniel;
Whereas Private First Class Chestnut and Detective Gibson
were the first United States Capitol Police officers ever
killed in the line of duty;
Whereas Private First Class Chestnut and Detective Gibson,
and all those who helped apprehend the gunman, assist the
injured, and evacuate the building, are true heroes of
democracy, and every American owes them a deep debt of
gratitude: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, (the House of Representatives
concurring), That--
(1) Congress hereby honors the memory of Detective John
Michael Gibson and Private First Class Jacob Joseph Chestnut
of the United States Capitol Police for the selfless acts of
heroism they displayed on July 24, 1998, in sacrificing their
lives in the line of duty so that others might live; and
(2) when the Senate and the House of Representatives
adjourn on this date, they shall do so out of respect to the
memory of Detective John Michael Gibson and Private First
Class Jacob Joseph Chestnut.
The Senate proceeded to consider the concurrent resolution.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I want to extend my deepest sympathy to
the families of Officer J.J. Chestnut and Detective John Gibson, and to
the many friends that they leave, particularly their brothers and
sisters in arms, the members of the United States Capitol Police. Our
hearts ache for them as they struggle with their staggering loss.
Like many Members of Congress, I was headed home Friday afternoon
when Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson were slain. I was in the
airport in Minneapolis, changing planes, when I first learned of what
had happened. I was shocked and sickened and saddened.
Throughout the airport, wherever there was a TV, people crowded
around it to watch the news, and try to understand.
At home in South Dakota this past weekend, I spoke with countless
people who told me how terribly sad they are about the deaths of these
two brave men.
In that airport, in South Dakota and across our nation, Americans
understand that Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson sacrificed their
lives to guard and protect something that is sacred to all of us.
This Capitol truly is ``the people's house'', a symbol of freedom and
democracy, recognized the world over.
That is one of the reasons Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson
loved it so, and were so proud to work here.
It is difficult, unless you have worked here, to understand what a
close-knit family the Capitol community is. We come to work every day,
pass each other in the halls. We ask about each others' families, joke
with each other.
And today, we try to comfort each other.
Whenever you suffer a death in the family, as we have in the Capitol
Hill family, there is at first a sort of unreality about it.
That is especially true when the person is taken suddenly, or too
young, as Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson were.
But then, you come to where they should be and there is a hole in the
world and you begin to understand that it's true.
Coming back to work today, we have all experienced that void.
Inside the Capitol, another officer stands where Officer Chestnut
should be.
And the door over the House Majority Whip's office, where Detective
Gibson was stationed, is draped in black bunting.
Everywhere, the voices are quieter than usual. Tears rim the eyes of
many people. Outside, the flag over the Capitol flies mournfully at
half-staff.
Below it, on the white marble steps, lay flowers and cards left by a
grateful public to honor two fallen heroes.
Then, there is perhaps the saddest sight of all: the black bands
stretched like a gash over the badges of the Capitol Police officers.
These are the inadequate tributes we pay to these two extraordinary
men whose professionalism, courage and selfless dedication last Friday
afternoon surely saved many innocent lives.
But the real tribute is not what is different about the Capitol
today. The real tribute is what is the same.
The halls of ``the people's house'' are filled today--as they are
every day--with vacationing families, school children, Scout troops and
thousands of others who have come to see their government in action.
They walk these majestic halls and marvel--as they do every day--at the
beauty of this building, at its history and its openness.
That is the real tribute to Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson.
Because they made us feel so safe, we may not have understood fully
the risks they took each day when they put on their badges and came to
work. But they understood.
They knowingly risked their lives because they loved this building
and
[[Page S9033]]
what it represents, and they wanted others to be able to see their
government at work.
Among the bouquets on the steps outside is a handmade tribute: a
collage of a silvery cross on black paper. Glued across the top of the
collage is the headline from S aturday's newspaper. It reads ``2 Slain
Officers Remembered, Called Heroes.''
Today, as we struggle to accept that loss, we offer our condolences
and thanks to the men and women of the Capitol Police Department
especially those who were at work last Friday afternoon and who reacted
with such selfless professionalism as well as those who worked through
the weekend so that ``the people's house'' could remain open to the
people.
We can only imagine how awful these days are for you, and how
difficult it must be for you to be here.
We are proud to work with you, and deeply grateful to you for your
courage and dedication.
Above all, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends
of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson. May God comfort them and ease
their terrible anguish.
Tomorrow, we will put aside our normal schedule in order to pay our
final respects to Jacob Joseph Chestnut and John Gibson.
Their bodies will lie in honor in the Rotunda, surrounded by statues
of other American heroes. That is as it should be, for they truly are
heroes. They gave their life for their country and, in doing so, saved
the lives of countless others. We are in awe of their sacrifice, and we
are grateful to them beyond words.
Ms. MIKULSKI. I also want to voice my sorrow and the sorrow of the
people of Maryland following the tragic events on Friday, July 24.
And I rise in tribute to the heroic acts of Officer Jacob ``J.J.''
Chestnut, from Ft. Washington in my home state of Maryland, and special
agent John Gibson, of nearby Woodbridge, Virginia, who gave their lives
to protect the U.S. Capitol and its residents, to protect this building
that is the symbol of freedom and democracy the world over.
No words can adequately express my pain and outrage at the senseless
killings that took place at 3:40 on Friday. No words can adequately
comfort those who were emotionally and physically injured, nor relieve
the pain of the families who lost loved ones. No words can erase the
horror of the Weston family upon learning that their son may have
committed this horrific act. And no words can adequately express the
sorrow that millions of Americans feel today about this assault on our
nation's heritage and democratic institutions.
However, words can be used to remember and applaud the lives and
heroism of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson. And I want to add my
voice to the call today to remember those brave men and commend all the
Capitol Hill police officers who put their lives on the line to protect
democracy. And I want to add my voice to the call to ensure that the
People's House remains open to the people, while preserving the safety
of those who work and visit this great institution.
Many of my colleagues know how indispensable and brave the Capitol
Hill Police Officers are, but many other Americans learned of these
brave troops just on Friday. Let me tell you what I think many people
didn't really know until Friday: what a Capitol Hill Police Officer
does and what makes them so special.
These men and women are some of the most unique officers in the
country. First, they are excellent federal law-enforcement officials
who protect members of Congress from crooks, terrorists, or anyone else
who would want to harm us and they also protect all the people in the
building, whether it's a foreign dignitary, like Mr. Mandela, or a
girl-scout troop from Iowa. Second, they are also ``Officer
Friendly''--welcoming people and answering questions and many have
taken special language training to help visitors from around the world.
Third, many are also trained for other possible emergencies: to provide
basic paramedic help in the case of an ill tourist, or to provide basic
fire-fighting and help evacuate buildings in the case of fires.
These police are like our own ``Cops on the Beat.'' Many of the
officers are assigned a primary beat, which means they get to know
particular members and our hours and our staffs; the regular delivery
people; and others. They know who are the usual folks coming in and can
then detect anyone who is strange, or who is acting strange. So, just
like thousands of towns across the country, Capitol Hill has its own
community policemen. They have a beat, they get to know us, and we get
to know them.
And if you're on the beat, you get to know the officers on your beat.
We talk about the Orioles. We talk about their families. There is
always the proud dad. The one who's getting off early because his
daughter is going to a prom and he's chaperoning. Or one who is the
first in her family to get her college degree.
They also get to know us. We talk to them about our own families. I
know when my own mother was ill and we thought she needed surgery, they
volunteered to organize a blood drive if I needed it. They told me that
I never had to worry, that if I needed extra people to come to
Baltimore, they would. They just said, ``Don't worry, Senator Barb,
we'll be there for you.''
Finally, so many of the Capitol Hill Police Officers are my Maryland
constituents, just like J.J. Chestnut. So, I'd hear if the fishing was
good down in Southern Maryland, or if the traffic was congested.
Officer Chestnut was from Ft. Washington in Prince Georges County. It's
close to the Potomac River, and it is where a lot of our officers live.
Where they can have a wonderful family life, fish in the Potomac, or,
as I've learned about Officer Chestnut, tend a wonderful vegetable
garden. Officer Chestnut was always one of the stars--trained as an MP
in the military, he'd been with the Capitol Police for eighteen years
and was known for having a unique touch with tourists and constituents.
We were very proud of him and that he was even nominated at one time
for Capitol Police Officer of the Year.
And I know how proud we were of Detective Gibson as well. He was from
just across the River in Virginia, and was also a star and a hero. From
helping tourists to protecting dignitaries, Detective Gibson always
made the safety of others his top priority. I know he was a true hero
on Friday, when he stopped the gunman from entering further into the
building.
The Capitol Hill Police Officers are our hi-touch, hi-tech community
police officers and we are very, very proud of them. And we are
profoundly grieved at the passing of two of that force's brightest
lights, Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson.
My heart and prayers go out to their families, as they cope with
their overwhelming loss. And my heart goes out to the family of the
suspect, Mr. Weston. From everything I've seen and heard, Mr. Weston
was mentally ill. From interviews I've seen, the Weston family is a
good family and his mom and dad are absolutely grief-stricken at the
thought that their son could have done such a terrible, terrible act
and our thoughts and prayers should be with them, as well today.
Mr. President, I know the entire Senate joins me in saying that this
act was a horror and that no family, no nation should have to endure
the pain we feel today. I know that we will honor them tomorrow in a
service befitting heroes because, Madam President, they were heroes.
Giving their lives so that others might be safe is the ultimate act of
heroism. We know that Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson are heroes
for today and all eternity.
Madam President, I hope that as we respond, we are very careful to
ensure that the public access continues to be granted here. We need to
ensure that what they died for, which was defending not only the
building, but what the building stands for, so that the public can
always come see us doing our work while they so valiantly did their
work. I thank the Chair and my colleague, the senior Senator, for
yielding me this time.
I yield the floor.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, on Friday, two veteran Capitol Police
Officers were killed in the line of duty during a tragic attack in the
United States Capitol. Their sacrifice in performance of duty will
forever be remembered in the halls of the United States Congress.
Tomorrow in the Rotunda of the Capitol, we will memorialize the
bravery
[[Page S9034]]
and sacrifice of these two officers--the first Capitol Police Officers
to be killed in the line of duty.
Officer ``J.J.'' Chestnut was 58 and the father of five children. He
was a grandfather and a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force
with service in Vietnam. Officer Chestnut was a member of the Capitol
Police Force for 18 years.
Special Agent John Gibson was 42 and the father of three children. He
was an 18-year veteran of the Capitol Police Force who served as a
Special Agent assigned to House Majority Whip, Tom DeLay for the last
three years.
To the families of these men, we extend our deep and heartfelt
sympathy during this very difficult time. The Capitol Hill community
has lost two respected and brave defenders of democracy.
To the fellow officers of these fallen heroes, you have our
unqualified support as daily you carry your duties to protect the halls
of freedom. Your dedication and service to the Nation is deeply
appreciated.
Indeed, all Americans are indebted to Officer Chestnut and Special
Agent Gibson for their devotion to duty and their sacrifice in the
defense of freedom.
Mr. President, as chairman of the Rules Committee, I also had the
opportunity over the weekend to maintain close contact with those here
under the direction of our distinguished majority leader and minority
leader, notably the Sergeant at Arms and the chief of police. I wish to
commend them in the manner in which they very quickly took charge of
this tragic situation and, once again, reopened the people's house--
that is what this magnificent structure is--so that the people from the
United States, people from all over the world, can continue to come and
share the magnificence of this edifice.
A great debt of gratitude is owed, of course, especially to these two
officers and to their families. As I look into their eyes of the men
and women who guard the Capitol, each day, I silently express my
gratitude, for we couldn't have 32,000 visitors as we did the day
before and probably in the day to come, who could walk through these
magnificent halls with a sense of safety and confidence--we couldn't
have that without the dedicated service of our Capitol Police. Nor
could the business of the Congress itself take place without their
taking a risk every minute of the day and night that this edifice is
open for the people's business.
I also thank the medical department. They responded and were on the
scene within less than 2 minutes. I went down to personally express my
appreciation and their reply to me was, we are there, we did our duty
like everyone else, and we are delighted to be a part of this team that
functions to make this magnificent organization and this building serve
the people of this country and, indeed, stands as a symbol to the whole
free world.
I thank the Chair and I thank my distinguished colleague.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.
Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I wish to join briefly in the comments
that have been made. The heroism of the two slain officers will be a
permanent memorial to the hundreds of others, the thousands, the tens
of thousands of others here and across our land who daily put their
lives at risk so we can live as free and secure people.
The greatest testimony that we could give to these two brave men
would be to continue the practice of openness in this Capitol. Our
democracy depends upon a very special relationship between the people
and those who are fortunate enough to be their representatives. We must
not break that bond. We must be prudent in our actions, but not closed
in our demeanor toward the thousands of citizens who come here on a
daily basis to observe their democracy.
So I join in the comments that have been made by our leaders and
extend our heartfelt sympathy to those families who have been so
tragically ruptured by this senseless act.
Mr. KENNEDY addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, the nation was stunned as we learned of
the tragic deaths of John Gibson and J.J. Chestnut, two veteran
officers of the Capitol Police who lost their lives in the line of duty
in the tragic and senseless shootings last Friday. The extraordinary
dedication and heroism of these two courageous officers clearly
prevented greater loss of life in the Capitol, and I join all Americans
in mourning their deaths.
These brave men represented the very finest traditions of American
law enforcement. They protected a building--the nation's Capitol--and
in doing so they were also defending our democracy. Unless citizens can
come freely into the Capitol building and meet with their elected
Senators and Representatives, our democracy and our freedoms are
greatly diminished. Special Agent Gibson and Officer Chestnut
understood this, and with professionalism and dedication, they served
Congress well and served the country well too.
It is fitting that these two brave men will lie in state tomorrow in
the Capitol building where they gave their lives. They made the
ultimate sacrifice to protect us, and we will forever owe them and
their families a debt of deep gratitude.
Our thoughts and prayers go out especially to the Gibson and Chestnut
families. My family too has suffered the sudden loss of loved ones, and
I know that there is no greater tragedy, no greater sadness for a
family.
Special Agent Gibson is a son of Massachusetts, and we were all
especially proud of him. He loved his family, his country, his church,
and his Capitol. Our hearts go out to his wife Lynn and his three
children during this very difficult time of loss.
Officer Chestnut, too, was well known by anyone who entered the
Document Room door. He was always friendly to everyone, and was a
consummate professional in the conduct of his duties. I join Wendy and
the rest of Officer Chestnut's family in mourning his loss.
We cannot help but be angry at the senseless act that led to the
death of these two extraordinary officers. One minute, the Capitol
building is full of the people's business--with debates and meetings
and visitors from across the country in this great and open symbol of
our free government. The next minute, the nation was shocked to learn
the news that a man who had no business possessing a handgun had taken
the lives of these officers in two brutal acts that shocked the
conscience of Congress and the country.
In the days ahead, we will consider what steps may be taken to ensure
a secure--and yet open--Capitol. I hope Congress will also consider
further actions to keep guns out of the hands of those who so easily
misuse them. As we saw on Friday, our failure to do so leads to tragedy
far too often.
The Gibson and Chestnut families know that all of us in Congress
embrace them at this sad time. The nation loves them. We are grateful
for their extraordinary service, and saddened by their tragic
sacrifice.
Mr. President, on Saturday, at Andrews Air Force Base, President
Clinton spoke eloquently and movingly about the loss of these two brave
officers. I ask unanimous consent that his remarks be printed in the
Record at this point.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Remarks of President Clinton, July 25, 1998
Good morning. The shooting at the United States Capitol
yesterday was a moment of savagery at the front door of
American civilization. Federal law enforcement agencies and
the United States Attorneys' office are working closely with
the D.C. Police and the Capitol Police to ensure that justice
is pursued.
Meanwhile, I would ask all Americans to reflect for a
moment on the human elements of yesterday's tragedy. The
scripture says ``greater love hath no man than this, that he
lay down his life for his friends.''
Officer Jacob ``J.J.'' Chestnut and Detective John Gibson
laid down their lives for their friends, their co-workers and
their fellow citizens--those whom they were sworn to protect.
In so doing, they saved many others from exposure to lethal
violence.
Every day, a special breed of men and women pin on their
badges, put on their uniforms, kiss their families good-bye,
knowing full well they may be called on to lay down their
lives. This year alone 79 other law enforcement officers have
made the ultimate sacrifice. Every American should be
grateful to them, for the freedom and the security they guard
with their lives. And every American should stand up for them
and stand against violence.
[[Page S9035]]
Officer Chestnut was a Vietnam veteran, a member of the
Capitol Police for 18 years, just months away from
retirement.
Detective Gibson was a deeply religious man, beloved by his
co-workers and, being from Massachusetts, devoted to the Red
Sox and the Bruins.
Both leave behind loving wives and children, the affection
of neighbors, friends and co-workers, and the deep gratitude
of those who are alive today because of their bravery.
In this one heartless act, there were many acts of heroism,
by strangers who shielded children with their bodies, by
officers who fanned across the Capitol, by Dr. Bill Frist, a
renowned heart surgeon before his election to the Senate from
Tennessee, who had just put down his gavel, when he rushed to
tend the injured.
To all these and others, who stood for our common humanity,
we extend the thanks of our nation.
To the families of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson,
nothing we say can bring them back. But all Americans pray
that the power of a loving God, and the comfort of family and
friends, will with time ease your sorrow and swell your pride
for loved ones and the sacrifice they made for their fellow
citizens.
To Angela Dickerson, the young woman who was injured in the
shooting, we extend our prayers and hope for your speedy
recovery.
To every American who has been shaken by this violent act,
to the millions of parents who have taken your children
through those very same doors, I ask you to think about what
our Capitol means. All around the world, that majestic marble
building is the symbol of our democracy and the embodiment of
our nation. We must keep it a place where people can freely
and proudly walk the halls of their government. And we must
never, ever take for granted the values for which it stands,
or the price of preserving them.
Mr. HATCH addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I have been honored to serve here in the
Senate for 22 years. I have to say that, to a person, our Capitol Hill
Police are terrific human beings; to a person, they are dedicated to
their jobs and they want to do the best they can. Frankly, without
them, I think this place would not run anywhere near as well as it
does. To a person, those of us who knew John Gibson and J.J. Chestnut
have to say these are two of the finest who have ever served on Capitol
Hill. These are people for whom everybody should have a sense of deep
gratitude. They gave their lives as a last full measure of devotion so
that many others might live.
It is a shame that we have people who violate the law and who may be
emotionally disturbed and do things like this. And it is an absolute
catastrophe and tragedy for the families of these two fine men. Our
hearts go out to them. Elaine and I have them in our prayers, as I know
other Members of Congress and Members of the Senate do as well. These
were two fine men--always courteous, always looking out for not only
the Members as they came in and out of those doors and in and out of
the Capitol, but for every citizen who came to the People's House time
after time--and millions of them do. Both of them had long tenures here
and both served every day of those tenures with distinction.
Mr. President, I want to personally express my gratitude to these men
for the sacrifice they have made, and to their families for the
sacrifice that they have made. I am sure the families will be taken
care of. I hope we will do some good for them and that they will
realize how deeply we all feel about the sacrifice that these two brave
men gave for us.
Mr. President, this is one of the great spots on this Earth. It is
visited by millions of people. It means so much to those of us who
serve in this building. We are vulnerable to people who are emotionally
disturbed or who may be terrorists. We are vulnerable to people who are
insensitive to the needs of those who serve here. On the other hand,
every one of us feels it to be such a privilege to serve in these two
great bodies, in this separate branch of government that means so much
to the people. We could not serve very well, nor could we accomplish
very much if it weren't for the sacrifices of all of our people here on
Capitol Hill who work so hard--like John Gibson and J.J. Chestnut.
Again, Mr. President, I pray to our Father in Heaven that the
families of these two heroes will be comforted and cared for. As a
Nation, we are deeply grateful for their service. God bless those who
remain that we all might keep in remembrance the sacrifice of these two
fine men.
Mr. DURBIN addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois is recognized.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this is a special moment in the history of
this body. I wanted to be heard for a very brief moment on what
happened in the last few days here in this building. I guess it is
customary, when you work in a building for many years, to get used to
it and not to be stirred by it, but not this building. For 16 years, it
has been my honor to serve in the House and the Senate, and I can tell
you that as I walk up to this building still in daylight, or in the
middle of the night, it still has a special impact on me, as it does on
so many Americans. There have been those who have come before us, and
my colleague from West Virginia, who is a historian of this body,
remembers, I'm sure, better than most that when President Lincoln was
engaged in the Civil War, we were in the process of building the great
white dome that we now see on the top of this Capitol Building.
People came to him, and said, ``Mr. President, we can't continue this
construction. We have a war to fight.'' He said, ``No. We will continue
this construction. We will build this dome during the war as a symbol
of what this Nation will be after the war; that it will be united
again; and that this building will be the symbol of that unity.''
President Lincoln had it right. As you reflect on this building and
what it means to so many of us, you have to also reflect on its
history.
This is not the first act of violence in this building. It is not the
first time that lives were lost, or that blood was shed.
The British invaded this building and came up the spiral staircase.
During the Civil War, the Union troops who had been felled in battle
were brought here and laid in the Rotunda in a hospital where they were
treated. In the 1950s, a group of terrorists took control of the
Chamber of the House for a few brief minutes, firing pistols on the
floor and injuring people. In 1983, just outside this Chamber, there
was a bomb that was detonated late at night. We have never discovered
the cause of that bombing. And then, of course, the tragic incident
which occurred last Friday involving one very troubled, disturbed
individual who took two lives and injured another person.
I guess each of us who walk in the door of the Capitol each day take
for granted the warm greeting and the smile from the Capitol Police,
and forget that it is more than just a responsibility to greet. It is a
responsibility to protect that brings them to this building. Like so
many Senators, I came to take that for granted. You think it is always
going to be safe and that they will never need to take the pistols from
their holsters, or use them. And yet last Friday that all changed.
When I came to this building today and walked in the entrance and saw
the Capitol policeman at his post, I looked at him in a different way,
understanding that he was doing more than just his duty. He was
protecting me and thousands of others who come to this building.
In behalf of John Gibson and Mr. Chestnut, J.J. Chestnut, my
sympathies go out, on behalf of the people of Illinois and all of my
friends and my staff, to their families. To think that they have left
behind eight children who now should be cared for, and I hope all of us
will join in that effort to make certain that that occurs--and that
their family goes through this period of mourning understanding that
they do not stand alone, that we stand with them shoulder to shoulder
in gratitude for what they have given us. Because what they have given
us is something we all hope to bring to this building--to bring more
honor to this building, to the people who work here, and to the great
tradition in history of the U.S. Capitol. We do it in our daily
activities, in our speeches, in our conduct. What these men have done
is to give their lives in the service to that great tradition and that
great history.
There will be another time and another place when we will talk about
how this tragedy might have been averted with better security measures,
or better efforts in terms of the control of guns, or keeping guns out
of the
[[Page S9036]]
hands of those who should not have them. But let's save that debate for
another day. Let us close this debate with fond memory of the
contributions made by these two men, and with gratitude not only to
them but to all of the men and women who protect our lives in law
enforcement, and particularly those on the Capitol Hill Police Force.
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in
expressing their shock, dismay, and most significantly, sorrow at the
tragic events that unfolded not far from this chamber last Friday.
The killing of a police officer is always a disturbing event as a
mortal attack on a law enforcement officer is also an attack on society
at large. After all, it is those men and women who are sworn law
enforcement officers who stand between the law abiding citizens of the
United States and those elements within our society that seek to do
harm. Being any sort of law enforcement officer is a thankless job
fraught with danger, two facts that it is sometimes easy to forget.
The deaths of Capitol Police Officers Jacob Chestnut, known as J.J.,
and John Gibson not only remind us of just how dangerous a profession
law enforcement is, but also of the admiration we have for those who
protect us. What makes their deaths all the more disturbing is that
they were attacked in the United States Capitol, a place that is more
than an office building; it is a symbol of our Nation. What makes their
deaths all the more saddening is that being of close interaction each
of us has with Capitol Police Officers, we have come to think of these
men and women as much more than simply protectors, we have come to view
them as friends.
Since its founding in 1828, the United States Capitol Police and its
officers have worked, largely in anonymity, to protect Members of
Congress, their staffs, the Capitol, and all those who visit this
magnificent building. They are a force that carries out its
responsibilities professionally and effectively, and they manage to
bring credible security and protection to one of the most publicly
accessible places in the world. Last Friday, fate forced Officers
Gibson and Chestnut to shed their anonymity in the most tragic and
brutal of manners, but the manner in which they put duty and aiding
others above personal safety is a credit to not only each of them, but
to all the members of the United States Capitol Police. The members of
the South Carolina Congressional Delegation feel a special sense of
grief as ``J.J.'' Chestnut was both a native of Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina and a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force who
retired as a Master Sergeant
Many have likened Capitol Hill to a small town, as this is a place
where people know each other, stop to talk, and where there is true
sense of congeniality and hospitality. That spirit is certainly evident
in the outpouring of grief, support, and sympathy we are seeing for
these two slain officers. Sadly, no amount of expressed condolences or
high praise will bring these two brave men back to their families and
loved ones. I thin, however, that each of us hopes that these
expressions will convey the high regard we hold for these two men, and
our inexpressible gratitude that Officers Chestnut and Gibson were on
duty. Their actions truly saved the day and they will no doubt forever
be remembered as ``heroes.''
Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, as with everyone in Congress and the
nation, my thoughts today are with the victims of Friday's shooting and
their families. And like many of my colleagues, I wish to pay tribute
to the heroism of Capitol Police officers Jacob Chestnut and John
Gibson and to mourn their passing.
This is a terrible time for the Congress and the nation. It reminds
me, Mr. President, of having to write the families of dead comrades in
World War II. How does one summarize the achievements and meaning of
two lifetimes in a short letter or brief remarks? How does one do
justice to men who gave the last full measure of devotion that others
might live? Consoling the families of the dead and doing justice to the
ultimate sacrifices and nobility of heroes is never easy. It is
particularly hard in time of peace, when we take our safety and
security for granted.
But even in peace time, Mr. President, unfathomable evil exists and
threatens to shatter our security at any moment. Officers Chestnut and
Gibson knew that the price of our safety here in the Capitol was their
unceasing vigilance; and they showed us that even in peace time, the
heroism of brave and selfless individuals like them often is all that
enables us to live in freedom and work in safety. It is easy to forget
this; but we must not forget, and Friday's events ensure that we will
not forget. Officer Chestnut, a South Carolina native who served with
distinction in the Air Force for many years, would not want us to
forget. He knew the price of freedom, and he was willing to give his
life for his fellow citizens.
Who knows how many lives officer Gibson saved by confronting the
gunman, Russell Weston, outside the office of Representative Tom DeLay?
Who knows how many tourists and staffers would have died were it not
for the bravery and heroism not only of officers Gibson and Chestnut
but of all the Capitol Police?
Friday's shootings were a reminder that all of us who live and work
on Capitol Hill owe an unpayable debt to the Capitol Police. The brave
men and women of that force put their lives on the line for us every
time they put on a uniform. It is their job to stand between us and
harm's way, and they perform it with unceasing devotion and consummate
professionalism. We should all give thanks to God that we are protected
by these officers. And we should realize that it is thanks to their
zealous devotion to duty that we live in freedom from constant fear and
danger.
For those of us who see the Capitol Police every day, it is easy to
forget they are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. Officers
Chestnut and Gibson were not only exemplary guardians of the public
safety--they also were dedicated and loving family men. Each leaves
behind a wife and three children. These shattered homes are the legacy
of one lunatic's senseless violence.
Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson's heroic deaths are all the more
painful for the loss their families will forever feel. We whom they
died to protect can only hope that the nobility of their sacrifice and
the priceless ideal for which they gave their lives--not us, but
freedom and democratic government--will be of some small comfort to
their families.
I join with all Americans today in offering my deepest thanks to
these men, my condolences to their families, and my promise that their
sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to two Capitol
Police officers, two heroes, who last Friday gave their lives in the
line of duty while serving their country, Detective John Gibson and
Officer Jacob Chestnut.
Last Friday's shocking and senseless violence in the halls of the
U.S. Capitol both saddened our nation and took the lives of two of our
finest. I would like to take a moment to share a few memories and
thoughts about the two slain officers.
About a month ago, in late June, I had the chance to start a new
friendship with a good man. I had the pleasure to get to know John
Gibson, not just as a able and dedicated detective, but also as a
gentleman and dedicated family man.
During our time together, I learned that we shared common values and
a similar hobby. As a former deputy sheriff myself, it quickly became
evident that Detective Gibson and I shared an understanding of the
daily perils facing law enforcement officers.
Detective Gibson and I also discovered that we both shared the rather
unique hobby of collecting police patches. In fact, just last month I
sent him several police arm patches from Colorado to add to his
collection as a small token of my appreciation for his dedicated
service.
I understand that it was Detective John Gibson's final shot, his
final act as a defender of the peace, that brought the gunman down and
ended the violent rampage. The Detective's steadfast valor, while
already having been shot several times, was the difference that saved
many lives. We all owe him a deep debt of gratitude.
Officer Jacob Chestnut was posted at the Document Door entrance on
the Capitol's East Front. Officers posted to
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this entrance are the first faces that many tourists see when they come
to visit the Capitol. Officer Chestnut's post, which involves achieving
a delicate balance between the ensuring safety of those who visit the
Capitol while keeping the People's House as free and open as possible,
requires a very special combination of hospitality, humor, patience and
professionalism. To his credit, Officer Chestnut excelled in this
endeavor.
If it had not been for the heroic actions of these two brave
officers, this dangerous gunman would almost certainly have killed many
more innocent people. The officer's ultimate sacrifice saved lives. I
extend my deepest sympathies to the families of these two fallen
heroes.
This building, the U.S. Capitol, is far more than just a building, it
is a living monument to freedom and democracy. It is perhaps the only
building on earth that simultaneously houses a healthy democracy at
work, while standing as a tribute to freedom that attract millions of
visitors from all over the U.S. and the entire world each year. The
chambers, galleries and halls of our Capitol are full of statues,
busts, paintings and displays that commemorate heroes and key events in
our nation's history. The men and women honored under this magnificent
dome have served their country in a wide variety of ways. Some have
been great visionaries and statesmen. Some have been leaders in science
or adventurers, like Colorado's son, astronaut Jack Swaggered whose
statute stands in these halls. Each of these heroes has contributed and
sacrificed in his or her own very real and personal way.
Some of these heroes have made the greatest sacrifice for their
nation, giving their lives. Detective John Gibson and Officer Jacob
Chestnut have joined this honored rank. They gave their lives for their
nation while protecting our nation's Capitol, and it is fitting that
they will lie in honor in the Capitol's Rotunda while a grateful nation
pays its respects.
Not only is the Capitol the American people's house, it stands as a
bright beacon of hope to all of the world's freedom loving people.
While traveling this building's halls, I have been regularly awed by
the comments of visitors from other countries as they comment in
astonishment how open and free this building is. They state how they
would never be allowed to walk so freely through the halls of their own
capital buildings back home in their respective countries. This is an
important part of what makes America great.
Whenever I have heard such sentiments, I am reminded of just how
fortunate I am, and we all are, to be Americans. Our Capitol is the
People's House, and it must remain open and accessible to all.
Thanks to the sacrifices of Detective John Gibson and Officer Jacob
Chestnut, and the dedication and professionalism of the entire U.S.
Capitol Police force, our nation's Capitol building is freely
accessible and continues to serve as a beacon of freedom.
Mr. GLENN. Mr. President, today, we mourn the loss in our Capitol
family of two brave men who gave their lives in service to our nation.
Last Friday, in a running gun battle, United States Capitol Police
Officer Jacob J. Chestnut and Detective John M. Gibson were killed in
the line of duty.
Mr. President, each of us who works in the Capitol feels a kinship to
and a deep appreciation of the officers of the U.S. Capitol Police. We
know that our lives are protected each and every day by the work that
they do. In the twenty-four years that I have served Ohio as Senator, I
have come to know many of the fine officers on the force. A former
member of my staff is currently a member of the force and other staff
members have officers among their immediate family members.
This highly trained and professional force polices our nation's
Capitol and performs numerous law enforcement duties as they monitor
the entrances of our buildings, ensure the safety of the millions of
tourists who visit the Capitol each year, and provide a kind word and a
watchful eye as we come and go. These officers go about their duties
with dedication and great skill.
In a senseless, momentary act of violence, these fine officers gave
their all. They gave their lives in the defense of all who visit and
work here. Mr. President, we may never understand why such a tragedy
occurred in our halls last Friday afternoon. Despite this lack of
comprehension, we will always be certain that J. J. Chestnut and John
Gibson fulfilled their responsibilities to our nation and will be
remembered as heroes.
I think that it is a fitting tribute that these officers will lay in
state in the Capitol tomorrow, an appropriate commendation for the
selfless sacrifice that they gave in the performance of their duties.
My wife, Annie, joins me in extending my deepest sympathy to the
families of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson.
Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I want to join my colleagues in
expressing my sincere condolences to the families of the two Capitol
Police officers who gave their lives last Friday defending the Capitol
and all of us who work here, as well as the many Americans who come
here from around the country to see their government in action.
Officers J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson are American heroes in the
truest sense of the word. Their actions last week unquestionably
prevented a terrible tragedy from becoming even more deadly. I know I
speak for every member of Congress in expressing my respect and
gratitude to them, their families, and their colleagues on the Capitol
Police force.
At the first sign of trouble, Officers Chestnut and Gibson acted on
instinct, doing what they were trained to do and saving lives in the
process. When an event like this happens, I think many of us react
according to instinct, and our instincts differ depending on the
varying experiences we've had.
As most people know by now, my colleague from Tennessee, Senator
Frist, also acted on instinct when he heard the news of Friday's
shootings. Upon returning to his office from speaking on the Senate
floor and learning what had happened, Senator Frist immediately called
the Capitol physician's office to see if they needed assistance, and
then rushed over to the scene of the shootings to lend a hand however
he could. He assisted in treating one of the two fallen police
officers, administered CPR, made sure that he made it safely to a
waiting ambulance--and then went back inside to treat another of the
victims. After restarting this second victim's heart, he rode with him
to D.C. General Hospital to ensure that, if paramedics had to open up
his chest on the way to the hospital, he would be there to provide
assistance or do the procedure himself.
Mr. President, Senator Frist's actions are both a reminder of the
very different routes each of us took in coming to the United States
Senate, and of the importance of preserving the diversity of
backgrounds that we have in this body. His instinct as a heart surgeon
and trauma specialist took over last Friday, and he rushed to the scene
to provide whatever help he could--just as he's done hundreds of times
before when patients were relying on him.
I want to take this opportunity to salute my colleague from Tennessee
for his heroic actions last Friday, and for all of the other times he's
provided medical assistance since coming to the Senate three and a half
years ago. Many people will remember that a couple of years ago, one of
our constituents, a man from Cleveland, Tennessee, had a heart attack
in the Dirksen Building, just outside of Senator Frist's office.
Senator Frist immediately came to the rescue, and saved this
Tennessean's life. Now that's what I call constituent service.
Mr. President, the events of last Friday have affected all of us very
deeply. We will not soon get over the memory of the tragedy that
occurred inside ``the people's house'' or of the heroic sacrifice made
by Officers Chestnut and Gibson. Again, I want to offer to their
families and Capitol Police colleagues our sincere condolences and our
deepest thanks.
Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, the U.S. Capitol Police--so ubiquitous,
so steady, so utterly competent. We take them for granted. Yet every
day they defend us, our families, our staff, millions of tourists,
ready to lay down their lives. Last Friday, two of them did: Officer
Jacob J. Chestnut and Detective John Gibson, each an 18-year veteran,
each married, each with children. One in the prime of life; the other,
a few short months from retirement. What a tragedy.
[[Page S9038]]
The fact of the matter is that what happened on Friday could happen
at any instant. One never knows when. In the crucible of a gun battle,
Chestnut, Gibson, and other Capitol Police officers performed their
duty in the most exemplary fashion. Chestnut and Gibson made the
ultimate sacrifice, laying down their lives to defend others. We can
only speculate how many bystanders would have been killed, if not for
their--and the other officers'--quick and appropriate actions.
To the wives and children, other family members, and friends and
colleagues of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson, our words cannot
assuage your grief. But perhaps there is some solace in knowing that
these fine two men, killed in the line of duty, have died the most
honorable deaths, defending the United States Congress and its most
sacred building. They are heroes. Remember, as Pindar wrote, that ``the
bright gleam of noble deeds moves on with undying voice, ever
unquenchable.'' And as you struggle to be brave in the days and weeks
ahead, know that courage is marked not by the absence of fear, but
rather by the presence of faith. May God be with you, and may God be
with J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I join my colleagues and our fellow
citizens all across this country in honoring the memories of Detective
John Gibson and Private First Class Jacob Chestnut. These two fine law
enforcement officers gave their lives in the line of duty during a
tragedy on Friday, July 24, 1998, while guarding the United States
Capitol. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these two
fine gentlemen.
The United States Capitol is recognized the world over as the symbol
of American freedom and of the still revolutionary idea that citizens
confer power upon those who serve us in government. That it could
become the scene of so heinous an act as this cannot but shake us from
the complacency by which we sometimes take this all for granted.
But on a beautiful summer day and with thousands of ordinary people
in sight, Officers Chestnut and Gibson gave their lives as proof that
everyday, in places as near as our Capitol and as far away as seven
seas, men and women serve selflessly to protect the freedom that is the
American birthright and the dream of millions around the globe.
I commend the United States Capitol Police, the D.C. Metropolitan
Police, and the other law enforcement agencies that have performed so
professionally throughout this difficult period. They are a continuing
tribute to their fallen comrades, and I trust that they will be
inspired to serve on in their memory.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Jacob J.
Chestnut and John M. Gibson, Capitol Police officers who were
tragically killed in the line of duty on Friday.
Officers Chestnut and Gibson were decent and highly capable law
enforcement professionals. On Friday, their selfless devotion to duty
saved countless lives. Their deaths were not in vain.
The service of these Capitol Police officers will not be forgotten by
the Congress. In particular, I will always remember the spirit and good
humor brought to this job by J.J. Chestnut, whom I knew personally from
years of working together here at the Capitol. This institution has
known few, if any, who were more friendly and able protectors.
On this day of reflection, I think it is important to note that
incidents such as occurred on Friday do not happen every day precisely
because Gibson, Chestnut, and other Capitol Police officers have done
their jobs so well. Even as they stood their ground and gave their
lives, Gibson and Chestnut demonstrated that attacks on this building
and the Members and staff who work here will simply not succeed.
Mr. President, every day of their careers here on the Hill, Chestnut
and Gibson provided a unique and important service to every American.
By protecting the United States Congress, they made it possible for our
Nation's legislature and our county's greatest public building to be
open and accessible to the American people. American democracy could
not function as it does in the sunlight of public scrutiny, engagement,
and participation if not for the safety provided by Gibson and
Chestnut. If for this reason alone, every American owes these
officers--and everyone serving in the United States Capitol Police--a
deep debt of gratitude.
It is difficult for those of us who knew these officers to let them
go easily, but certainly nowhere as trying as this loss has been for
their families. With our friends and colleagues here in the Senate and
millions of Americans throughout our country, my wife Lucy and I will
be sure to keep the families of Chestnut and Gibson in our thoughts and
prayers. It is my understanding that a scholarship fund is being
established in their honor, and I would urge every Member and staff
member to contribute.
Mr. President, I think the most important message we can deliver here
today is one of thanks. Officers John Gibson and Jacob Chestnut made
the ultimate sacrifice: they laid down their lives so that others could
live. For that, they deserve our unending gratitude and respect. Mr.
President, I yield the floor.
Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to take time out of our busy
schedule to recognize the bravery and valor of U.S. Capitol Police
Officers John M. Gibson and Jacob J. Chestnut. These two fine officers
were killed in the line of duty while protecting our Nation's Capitol
building and protecting those who pass through this great building.
They died fulfilling their sworn duty to protect the public, and they
did so in an exemplary way. They are heroes who saved many lives by
their actions.
I remember a period of time after the World Trade Center bombing in
New York in 1993 when law enforcement officials informed me of threats
against my life. The Capitol Police quickly formed a detail for my
protection. Officer Gibson was a member of this detail. I feel a
personal loss. This man was willing to lay down his life for mine and,
in fact, he did for others.
Tomorrow we will pay homage to their memory as they lay in honor
beneath the majestic Rotunda in the very building in which they gave
their lives to protect.
The thoughts and prayers of this great body, as well as that of the
Nation, goes out to the families and friends of Officers Gibson and
Chestnut.
Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I would like to say a few words
about the tragedy that occurred last Friday here in the Capitol. As all
the world now knows, the heart of our democracy was invaded that day by
a gunman who opened fire in an area crowded with tourists. Before the
melee was over, two Capitol Police officers were dead and an innocent
bystander was wounded.
Even before Friday's events, every Member of this Congress was well
aware of how critical the Capitol Police are to the functioning of our
democracy. We are here to do the people's business, but the sad fact is
that there are those--both at home and abroad--who do not wish us well
in our efforts. Instead of the free exchange of ideas central to the
concept of democracy, some of those individuals would, if given the
chance, express their views through bullets and explosives. The only
thing that stands between those individuals and the daily practice of
our democratic ideals is the Capitol Police. They are nothing less than
the guardians of those ideals--for what meaning would such principles
have if they could not be safely exercised?
On Friday, Officer John Gibson and Officer Jacob J. Chestnut
sacrificed their lives defending those principles. An 18-year veteran
of the force, Officer Chestnut was serving that day as the Capitol's
first line of defense, manning the metal detector designed to keep
instruments of violence out of these halls. When the gunman set off the
alarm, Officer Chestnut immediately responded, but, tragically, was
mortally wounded before he could stop the intruder. Officer Gibson,
also an 18-year member of the force, performed several acts of bravery
before his death, pushing a French tourist out of harm's way, hiding a
congressional staff member under a desk, ensuring that Representative
Tom DeLay and members of his staff were hidden from danger, and then
helping to bring down the gunman in the battle that ultimately cost his
life. Before he died, Officer Gibson singlehandedly kept the
[[Page S9039]]
gunman out of Representative DeLay's office and, in so doing, saved the
lives of both the Congressman and his staff.
Those of us who work here--the Senators, the Representatives, the
staff members, the Capitol Police--have lost two members of our
congressional family. But it is not only those who work and visit the
Capitol who owe an unrepayable debt to those officers--every citizen of
the United States is indebted to them. For Officers Chestnut and Gibson
died defending an institution that is the very embodiment of all the
democratic freedoms that we Americans hold dear.
Mr. President, our democracy does not exist in a vacuum; it functions
in a very dangerous world. For that reason, a system of security has
been established in the Capitol to try to insulate the Congress from
those who would do it harm while guaranteeing that we remain accessible
to the people we serve. On Friday, that system worked. This is ``the
people's house,'' and each year we welcome roughly four million people
to it. That is precisely the way it should be. This Capitol--the
greatest symbol of democracy of the greatest democratic republic the
world has ever known, a building aptly described by President Clinton
as ``the front door of American civilization''--belongs to the people
of the United States, and it must always be open to them. I do not
oppose calls for tighter security, but I would take issue with any
measure that would make it more difficult for the American people to
visit ``their house.''
Mr. President, I am the daughter and sister of police officers. I
know the terrible fear that every law enforcement officer's family
endures--the fear that when their loved one departs for work, he or she
may never return home. It is my good fortune that, throughout my life,
I have never seen that fear materialize. Therefore, I cannot claim to
have any concept of what the families of Officers Gibson and Chestnut
are going through right now. Nevertheless, I want to express my
heartfelt sorrow to them. Our prayers are with you and the entire
nation will forever be grateful for the heroism and sacrifice that your
loved ones made on our behalf.
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the two
Capitol Police Officers who gave their lives to protect members of
Congress, their staffs and visitors from throughout the world during
last Friday's tragic shooting at the United States Capitol.
For those of us who work in the Capitol, Special Agent John Gibson
and Officer Jacob Chestnut were among the people who are part of our
daily lives. And over the twenty years I have served in Congress, I've
been constantly impressed with their courteous manner and their
friendliness and the way they know all of us by name, all the while
maintaining the highest degree of professionalism in carrying out their
solemn duties. They become extensions of our staffs, and they become
our friends.
Sometimes, in the commotion of everyday life around here, it is easy
to forget that each new day brings the potential for unknown dangers
for these brave men and women. The fact is, those assigned to protect
the sanctity and safety of the U.S. Capitol put themselves in harms way
on a daily basis, and three days ago, two of them came to work in the
morning never to return to the lives and families they loved.
It is difficult for us to understand how a day which began like so
many other summer days here on Capitol Hill could so suddenly end in
violence and terror. Here beneath this dome of marble and stone; here
behind these historic walls; and here at the epicenter of the world's
greatest democracy; we feel somehow that such heinous acts are simply
too incongruous with our noble surroundings to be possible. And yet,
history and reality tell us they are, in fact, all too possible.
It vividly brings back to me one such incident fifteen years ago,
when I was in the House of Representatives. My future husband,
Congressman Jock McKernan, and I were standing with others on the House
floor when, right above us, two officers tackled a man brandishing a
bomb in the House gallery. These two men unhesitatingly put the safety
of the entire House chamber before their own, without questioning the
danger they faced.
Such was the case last Friday--as certainly more would have been
injured or killed had it not been for the willingness of Special Agent
Gibson and Officer Chestnut to put their lives on the line. Their
actions not only prevented what could have been an even greater
catastrophe, but sent a message to those who would violate the people's
house that they will never prevail.
During what I know is the most difficult of times for the families of
Agent Gibson and Officer Chestnut, I hope it will be at least some
measure of comfort for them to know that so many here and across
America are keeping them in their thoughts and prayers. The entire
nation shares in their sense of loss, and our hearts go out to the
loved ones that these brave individuals have left behind.
I also want to extend my sympathies to all the men and women of the
Capitol Police force. They have lost two of their finest--men whose
actions under the most dire circumstances have brought tremendous
credit to the Capitol Police. As members of the force go about their
vital duties, I want them to know that they have our fullest support,
trust, and appreciation for all they do to keep us safe.
Last Friday's shootings stunned the nation and affected us all in
very personal ways. For those of us here on Capitol Hill, we lost two
members of our family. And in Maine and throughout the country, people
felt a sense of outrage that this symbol of freedom of democracy--the
greatest public building in the country--would be stained with the mark
of violence.
Today, let us as a country be grateful that people like Special Agent
John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut are willing to make the ultimate
sacrifice so that this building will always remain the people's house.
Let us mourn their loss, celebrate their lives, and never forget their
courageous deeds on behalf of all the citizens of our great Nation.
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, all of America mourns the loss of two brave
Capitol Police Officers--John Gibson and Jacob Chestnut. We will never
understand the senseless violence that took their lives, never be able
to explain why two fine men who loved their families have been stolen
away from their wives and children. But we know for certain that
Special Agent Gibson and Officer Chestnut made the ultimate sacrifice
in the line of duty.
It has become almost cliched to say that Congress is the ``people's
house.'' What many forgot, though, until last Friday, is that John
Gibson and Jacob Chestnut were two very real people who kept the
people's house safe for over a million visitors and thousands of staff
members in the Capitol each year. Members of Congress know the Capitol
police as men and women who come to work each day to protect us. We see
them every morning and late into the night. We spend free moments in
the hallways and off the Senate floor talking with them--talking about
family, the score of last night's ball-game, the weather, and, of
course, the prospects of getting home for the weekend. There is a
special bond between us, those who are elected to serve here for a
period of time and those who put on a uniform to serve in a different
way. It is a bond of public service, a common purpose too often
overlooked in the hustle and bustle of everyday life in Washington.
This remains a country where we allow the media spotlight and our
collective imagination to transform our public figures into heroes.
John Gibson and Jacob Chestnut require no exaggeration or rhetorical
enlargement to be seen as something above and beyond the ordinary. They
are--quite simply--and will be, forever--heroes.
John Gibson was a native of Massachusetts who, although he made his
career here in Washington and his home in the suburbs of Northern
Virginia, never left his allegiance to Massachusetts--or to the Boston
Red Sox--behind. John Gibson cherished his Waltham accent and his deep
roots in our state. He carried with him, everywhere, the values
instilled in him in Waltham. He is remembered by those who knew him as
the kind of husband and father who never went anywhere--not even on a
routine errand to the corner store--without one of his children happily
in tow. John Gibson served with total dedication to protect
Representative Tom DeLay, and died because his commitment, when tested
under fire, remained resolute. I want to extend my
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deepest condolences to John Gibson's family, to his wife and their
three children, Kristen, John, and Daniel, and to the Moakley clan
which is mourning John's loss. John Gibson became a part of
Massachusett's biggest extended political family when he married Joe
Moakley's niece, Evelyn. Whether debating Boston College football or
sharing Irish stories in the afternoon, John Gibson was a special
friend to the dean of our congressional delegation. Even in his
sadness, Congressman Moakley knows that the young man from Waltham who
joined the Capitol police force 18 years ago, served as a professional
who took his sense of duty to heart.
Jacob Chestnut, too, died as he lived--giving selflessly of himself
to help others. The tragedy on Friday made Jacob Chestnut a hero
throughout the country, but, long before that, he was a hero to the
community in Maryland where he made his home. Jacob Chestnut was the
neighbor who always lent a helping hand to those who needed it, the
good Samaritan who expected nothing in return and served his community
because it was the right thing to do do. Long before he was a hero to
his country, Jacob Chestnut was a role-model to his children and
grandchildren.
One never knows how one will react under fire, how, when the shots
ring out and the adrenaline flows--at the moment when duty calls--one
will call upon the inner strength to react with bravery. It requires a
degree of courage found in the deepest reserves of the human character.
Every police officer in this country chooses to serve with the
knowledge that the day may come when that commitment will be tested.
John Gibson told a friend--just a week before he was struck down at the
Capitol--that he hoped that if that moment came, if he was called upon
to draw his gun and defend tourists or Members of Congress or a fellow
officer, that he would rise to the occasion. It is a thought that
accompanies every police officer through every step of what is at once
a dangerous and vital career. History will record that when that moment
came for John Gibson and Jacob Chestnut, they rose to the occasion,
remembered their duty, and gave their lives selflessly to protect not
just the people's house, but the people themselves who make that
Capitol a home. For the families they left behind, for those among us
privileged to work with them, and for all Americans, these two officers
will forever be heroes.
Even as we pay tribute to these brave, fallen officers, we must
remember that we are obligated to honor their memory with more than
words alone. There is a temptation in this country to focus only on the
extraordinary circumstances of these tragic deaths, to remember merely
that John Gibson and Jacob Chestnut were fatally wounded in the
``people's house.'' Too many commentators in the last few days have
said--again and again--``can we believe that this type of violence
could occur in our nation's capital?'' The truth is--and police
officers on the front lines know this better than we can imagine--
violence does occur in the nation's capitol, and in our classrooms, and
our tree-lined neighborhoods, and in homes across this country. To pay
tribute to John Gibson and Jacob Chestnut--to truly honor them for
their sacrifice--we must make clear our conviction as a nation that we
will not tolerate any form of violence in this country. To remember
John Gibson and Jacob Chestnut in a way that lifts us all up--in a way
that creates a safer world for the eight children these fine men left
behind--we must commit ourselves to safer neighborhoods, violence-free
schools, and communities where the sound of our children's laughter--
not the sound of gun shots--fills the air.
Mr. FAIRCLOTH. Mr. President, I rise to give my condolences to the
slain officers and their families. Both of these brave men gave their
lives to defend innocent visitors to our Nations Capital. Both gave
their lives so that the Capitol can remain a free and open institution,
visited by millions each year from this nation and nations of the
world. But for their acts of bravery, we don't know how many others may
have lost their lives. The entire Capitol Police Force deserves
congratulations, because I know there where other officers that
assisted in bringing the situation to a close. Further, I share the
sentiments expressed by the Majority Leader that we do everything we
can to insure that their families are well taken care of, I am sure
that is what these two brave officers would have wanted most. On behalf
of the citizens of North Carolina, we collectively express our deep
sorrow about this tragedy and extend our heartfelt condolences to their
families.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider
be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 110) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
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