[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 28, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H6493-H6494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PRAYERS FROM THE PEOPLE OF BROOKLYN AND STATEN ISLAND

  (Mr. FOSSELLA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I come here 
today with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to offer my 
condolences and prayers to the families of Officer Chestnut and 
Detective Gibson. Just on the way over here I was talking to some 
retired Capitol Hill Police, one of whom trained Detective Gibson. And

[[Page H6494]]

I guess, in a nutshell, he said, ``It could have been one of us,'' and 
I guess that really characterizes the mood around here these days: It 
could have been anybody. But it was two heroes who fell for their 
country, who fell protecting others without hesitation, without 
question.
  And, Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not only offer my 
prayers from my family and the people of Brooklyn and Staten Island to 
those of the families of Mr. Chestnut and Mr. Gibson, if I did not 
mention that, right now, there is a young police officer back home in 
Staten Island who was shot in the head 2 days ago by a 17-year-old boy, 
this boy who had killed somebody at the age of 15. So I say that as an 
example in reflection of that dedication of the Capitol Hill Police and 
police officers around this country who stand in defense of freedom 
every single day to protect the innocent, to protect us. And while we 
pray for the families of Mr. Gibson and Mr. Chestnut, may we also pray 
for Mr. Carter and hope that he recovers and that in Staten Island we 
have him back protecting us as well.

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