[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 28, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H6494-H6496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO OFFICER J.J. CHESTNUT AND DETECTIVE JOHN GIBSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to Officers 
J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson, and I hope something that has been said 
over these last 2 days will continue to help and comfort those who 
mourn.
  President John F. Kennedy once remarked: ``A man does what he must in 
spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and 
pressures, and that is the basis of all human mortality.'' Officers 
J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson truly upheld this lofty standard.
  And I also thank all other Capitol Hill Police Officers and all law 
enforcement officers throughout this Nation who protect us.
  As responsible defenders of our country, these two slain officers 
protected our citizens from mortal danger, and it cost them their very 
lives. But they protected more than the people around them. Officers 
Chestnut and Gibson protected the very core of our American society and 
our belief in the preservation of life and democracy.

[[Page H6495]]

  Today I would like to acknowledge the courage and dedication that 
Officers John Gibson and J.J. Chestnut exemplified this past Friday. 
Today I seek to honor the memories of these brave men who served their 
country with the utmost dignity.
  On a personal note I want to offer a very personal thanks, for I was 
here in these very Chambers when the shootout started, and I know that 
their bravery served and saved so many others.
  As I say goodbye to our fallen officers, I am reminded of the Psalm 
of David where it is written:

       Trust in the Lord, and do good, so you will dwell in the 
     land and enjoy security. Take the light in the Lord, and He 
     will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to 
     the Lord. Trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth 
     your vindication as the light and your right as the noon day.

  Last Friday, Officers Chestnut and Gibson did do good, and I am 
certain that they will bask in the Lord's glory when they reach the 
heavens.
  This event has brought the pall of sorrow across the expanse of our 
great Nation. We all grieve today for two heroes whose lives were 
prematurely ended. However, we are gratified that democracy and freedom 
still lives in these halls and in our Nation. We can find comfort 
knowing that Officers Chestnut and Gibson will glorify the heavens as 
their spirits ascend ever upward.
  As written in Matthew 5:

       Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons 
     of God. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see 
     God.
       Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' 
     sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
       Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and 
     utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
       Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, 
     for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
       And blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be 
     comforted.

  In addition to these two brave officers, we must also thank the 
entire Capitol Police Force whose value was clearly evident during 
these trying hours this past Friday. The fast response of all of the 
Capitol's Officers diminished the severity of this heinous event. Not 
only did the Officers respond to the threat, but they also maintained a 
sense of calm that averted panic and comforted Congress Members, staff 
members and the members of the public touring the capital grounds.
  I personally thank the police force for their mere presence comforts 
me when I step on these grounds, and I am comforted knowing that 
valiant officers like John Gibson and J.J. Chestnut watch over all of 
us.
  It is so very important to remember Officer Chestnut. This honorable 
man was dutifully providing directions for a man and his son when he 
was gunned down from behind by a sick and confused perpetrator. It is 
cruel irony that Officer Chestnut was summarily executed as he 
performed an act of kindness. As we remember him we must not only 
remember his gallantry. It is likely that we would be grieving the loss 
of a far greater number of lives if he had not acted.

                              {time}  1330

  Officer Gibson's quick action protected, not only the lives of the 
majority whip and his staff, but it also protected the multitude of 
innocents who were touring the Capitol and its grounds. Who knows what 
carnage would have unfolded had Officer Gibson not brought an end to 
this violence.
  I offer my utmost sympathy to the families. Officer Chestnut was the 
consummate family man. He shared precious moments with his wife and his 
children. He generously spent time with his father-in-law. He moved 
forward and helped all of those who wanted to help him. He helped and 
stood by his wife's side, and he savored the moments with his children 
and his grandchildren.
  Detective Gibson was also a loving man, a good husband, and a father 
of three. Detective Gibson spent much time with his family. He took his 
children to their athletic events, played with the family dog, and 
gladly offered assistance to his neighbors.
  The fact that Detective Gibson had planned to vacation with his 
family the moment he left work last Friday is a testament to his sense 
of family togetherness. That vacation on this Earth will never take 
place, but I know there are better days ahead.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself, my family, the constituents of the 
18th congressional district in Texas and my staff, I offer to those who 
mourn my greatest sympathy and love. And on behalf of all of us, I 
offer these words of comfort in Isaiah 40:31, ``But they that wait upon 
the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall line up with wings as 
eagles. They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not 
faint.''
  God bless the families of Officer J.J. Chestnut and Officer Gibson. 
God bless America.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to Officer J.J. Chestnut and John 
Gibson. I hope something that has been said over these days will help 
those who mourn.
  President John F. Kennedy once remarked,

       A man does what he must--in spite of personal consequences, 
     in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures--and that is 
     the basis of all human morality.

Officers Jacob J. Chestnut and John Gibson truly upheld this lofty 
standard. I also thank all other Capitol Hill police and all other law 
enforcement officers who protect us. As responsible defenders of our 
country, these two slain officers protected our citizens from mortal 
danger, and it cost them their very lives. But they protected more than 
the people around them. Officers Chestnut and Gibson protected the very 
core of our American society, our belief in the preservation of life 
and democracy.
  Today, I would like to acknowledge the courage and dedication that 
Officers John Gibson and J.J. Chestnut exemplified this past Friday. 
Today I seek to honor the memories of these brave men who served their 
country with the utmost dignity. On a personal note, I want to 
personally thank them because I was here in this chamber during the 
shootout and know that their bravery saved so may others.
  As I say goodbye to our fallen officers, I am reminded of the Psalm 
of David where it is written:

       Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will dwell in the 
     land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and he 
     will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to 
     the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth 
     your vindication as the light, and your right as the noonday.

Last Friday, Officers Chestnut and Gibson did ``do good,'' and I am 
certain that they will bask in the Lord's glory when they reach the 
heavens.
  This event has brought the pall of sorrow across the expanse of our 
great Nation. We all grieve today for two heroes whose lives were 
prematurely ended. However we are gratified that democracy and freedom 
still live in these halls and in our Nation.
  We can find comfort knowing that Officers Chestnut and Gibson will 
glorify the heavens as their spirits ascend over upward. As written in 
Matthew 5:

       Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons 
     of God. (5:9)
       Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. 
     (5:8)
       Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' 
     sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (5:10)
       Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and 
     utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 
     (5:11)
       Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, 
     for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. 
     (5:12)
       Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 
     (5:4)

  In addition to these two brave officers, we must also thank the 
entire Capitol police force whose value was clearly evident during 
those trying hours this past Friday. The fast response of all of the 
Capitol's officers diminished the severity of this heinous event. Not 
only did the officers respond to the threat, but they also maintained a 
sense of calm that averted panic and comforted Congress members, staff 
members, and the members of the public touring the Capitol grounds.
  I personally thank the police force because their mere presence 
comforts me whenever I step inside the Capitol. I am comforted knowing 
that valiant officers like John Gibson and J.J. Chestnut watch over me.

  This incident represented a rare event in our American history. 
Violent events in the Capitol, however, have occurred before. In 
February 1890, Charles E. Kincaid, Louisville Times correspondent, shot 
former representative William P. Taulbee on stairs leading from the 
House. Mr. Taulbee later died from his injuries. In December 1932, 
Marlin R.M. Kemmerer entered the House gallery and demanded time to 
address the House while brandishing a revolver. Fortunately, 
Representative Melvin J. Haas persuaded the gunman to drop the weapon. 
In March 1954, five Congressmen were shot on the floor of the House by 
three Puerto Rican

[[Page H6496]]

nationalists who were in the visitors' gallery. Until last Friday, the 
latest act of violence in the Capitol was the bombing of the second 
floor of the Capitol. Fortunately, no one was injured.
  What makes this recent event more serious than past events is the 
sense of security and safety that was shattered by the gunman's weapon. 
Given the heightened security at the Capitol, I have to think that few 
of us expected to face the violent assault on the Capitol, much less 
the loss of two Capitol officers.
  We must forever remember Officer Chestnut. This honorable man was 
dutifully providing directions for a man and his son when he was gunned 
down from behind by a sick and confused perpetrator. It is cruel irony 
that Officer Chestnut was summarily executed as he performed an act of 
kindness.
  We forever remember Officer Gibson. Were it not for his gallantry, it 
is likely that we would be grieving the loss of a far greater number of 
lives. Officer Gibson's quick action protected not only the lives of 
the Majority Whip and his staff, but it also protected the multitude of 
innocents who were touring the Capitol and its grounds. Who knows what 
carnage would have unfolded had Officer Gibson not brought an end to 
the violence?
  Authorizing the use of the Rotunda of the Capitol for the memorial 
services for these brave men is fitting because they truly are national 
heroes, and they deserve a hero's tribute. I am also honored that a 
plaque bearing the names of Officers Chestnut and Gibson will grace the 
walls of the Capitol, so we will forever remember their selfless acts 
of valor.
  I offer my utmost sympathy to the families of our fallen heroes. 
Officer Chestnut was the consummate family man. He shared precious 
moments with his wife and his children, and he generously spent time 
with his father-in-law in the garden that the two maintained. Because 
of the terrible acts of one man, Officer Chestnut will not be able to 
enjoy his retirement by his wife's side, he will not be able to savor 
moments with his children and grandchildren, and he will not be able to 
till that garden he loved so dearly.
  Detective Gibson was also a loving family man. A good husband and the 
father of three, Detective Gibson spent much time with his family. He 
took his children to their athletic events, played with the family dog, 
and gladly offered assistance to his neighbors. The fact that Detective 
Gibson has planned to vacation with his family the moment he left work 
last Friday is testament to his sense of family togetherness. Sadly, 
this vacation will never be taken, and Gibson's family will never again 
spend time with their beloved husband and father.
  Mr. Speaker on behalf of myself, my family, the constituents of the 
18th Congressional District in Texas and my staff, I offer my deepest 
sympathy and I leave you with the words of Isaiah 40:15, ``Those that 
wait upon the Lord shall walk, run and not faint.''
  Given the loss felt by the families of our fallen officers, I feel 
that we must do what we can to provide assistance to these survivors. 
By paying for the funeral services, creating a survivor's gratuity to 
the widows of the two officers, and by urging the establishment of a 
Capitol Police Memorial Fund, we can acknowledge the courage of 
Officers Chestnut and Gibson in the best way possible, by helping their 
family members.

                          ____________________