[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 28, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9140-S9141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 113--TO RENAME THE DOCUMENT DOOR OF THE 
              CAPITAL AS THE CHESTNUT-GIBSON MEMORIAL DOOR

  Mr. CAMBPELL submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration:

                            S. Con. Res. 113

       Whereas on Friday, July 24, 1998, a lone gunman entered the 
     United States Capitol building through the door known as the 
     Document Door, located on the first floor of the East Front;
       Whereas while the gunman's intentions are not yet fully 
     known, nor may ever be known, it is clear that he would have 
     killed many more innocent people if Officers Chestnut and 
     Gibson had not ended his violent rampage;
       Whereas Officer Jacob Chestnut was the first Capitol Police 
     officer to confront the gunman just inside the Document Door 
     and lost his life as a result;
       Whereas Detective John Gibson was the next officer to 
     confront the gunman and also lost his life in the ensuing 
     shootout;
       Whereas the last shot fired by Detective Gibson, his final 
     act as an officer of the law, finally brought down the gunman 
     and ended his deadly rampage;
       Whereas this was the first time members of the Capitol 
     Police have been killed in the line of duty in the 170-year 
     history of the police force;
       Whereas the Capitol Police represent true dedication and 
     professionalism in their duties to keep the Capitol Building, 
     the Library of Congress, and the Senate and House of 
     Representatives office buildings safe for all who enter them;
       Whereas the Capitol shines as a beacon of freedom and 
     democracy all around the world;
       Whereas keeping the sacred halls of the Capitol, known as 
     the People's House, accessible for all the people of the 
     United States and the world is a true testament of Congress 
     and of our Nation's dedication to upholding the virtues of 
     freedom;
       Whereas the door where this tragic incident took place is 
     known as the Document Door; and
       Whereas it is fitting and appropriate that the Document 
     Door be renamed as the Chestnut-Gibson Memorial Door in honor 
     of Officer Jacob Chestnut and Detective John Gibson: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Document Door located on the first 
     floor of the East Front is renamed as the Chestnut-Gibson 
     Memorial Door in honor of Officer Jacob Joseph Chestnut and 
     Detective John Michael Gibson.

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I submit a Senate concurrent 
resolution to rename the Document Door as the Chestnut-Gibson Memorial 
Door. I feel that it is only fitting that this door be named in honor 
of the two brave Capitol Police Officers, Detective John Gibson and 
Officer Jacob Chestnut, who just last Friday, gave their lives in the 
line of duty while serving their country.
  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.
  Officer Jacob Chestnut was posted at the Document Door entrance on 
the Capitol's East Front. Officers posted to 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.

[[Page S9141]]

  Detective John Gibson was the second Capitol Police Officer to engage 
the gunman. I understand that it was Detective John Gibson's last shot, 
his final act of 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.
  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 two officer's ultimate sacrifice saved many 
lives.
  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 attracts 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 Swigert whose 
statue 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 today 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 about 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.
  For these reasons I feel that it is only fitting that the Document 
Door be renamed in honor of the two brave Capitol Police Officers, 
Detective John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut, who gave their lives 
so that the Capitol building could remain the People's House and open 
to all.

                          ____________________