[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 105 (Thursday, July 30, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1478-E1479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                               IN TRIBUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM DeLAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 28, 1998

  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I want to place in the Record further 
tributes to the police officers who died protecting the United States 
Capitol last Friday.

          susan hirschman, chief of staff to the majority whip

       John Gibson made the ultimate sacrifice last Friday 
     defending us. John's professional skills saved each of us. We 
     will always remember John's sacrifice. But we will also 
     remember the many other contributions John made to our lives. 
     John's official duty was protecting Tom, the role that 
     ultimately cost him his life. However, I will also remember 
     that John had a quiet way of helping each of us do our job 
     better. For example, as the person who spent more time with 
     Tom than any of us, he was usually the first person to see 
     when things weren't working right. Often, as I walked into 
     the office passing his desk at the back door, he would look 
     at me and simply say ``Have you talked with the boss yet?''--
     gently letting me know that something was on Tom's mind. As 
     we have gathered over the past few days to discuss how much 
     we will miss John, I was not surprised that he had a similar 
     way of helping each and every person in the office. John was 
     a friend to each of us and he made our entire team work more 
     effectively.


               monica vegas kladakis, majority whip staff

       I got to know John Gibson better during the Republican 
     Convention in 1996. I remember squeezing into a cab with him 
     and a bunch of other staff people as we drove from place to 
     place, and I thought, ``He must really hate this.'' I had 
     thought he was reserved and maybe even a little distant, but 
     after that week I not only realized that he had a lot of 
     patience to deal with all of us raucous staff people, I also 
     discovered what a great sense of humor he had, how kind he 
     was, and how much fun he was to be with.
       And now he has saved my life. I feel an overwhelming sense 
     of gratitude toward him, from a depth which I don't know if 
     I've ever reached before. We can never thank him properly for 
     what he did for us, but I hope he knows that we will never 
     forget it.
       I'll miss him.


           special agent bob glynn and detective doug shugars

       Detective John M. Gibson and Officer Jacob J. Chestnut are 
     American heroes. Their heroic actions and personal sacrifice 
     was responsible for saving numerous lives and ensuring the 
     freedoms which all American enjoy continue.
       Officer Jacob J. Chestnut was a very professional member of 
     the United States Capitol Police. The polite and friendly 
     manner in which he did his job will always be remembered. 
     Every evening as Congressman DeLay and his security would 
     leave the U.S. Capitol, Officer Chestnut would always extend 
     a friendly, ``Have a good evening sir.'' This remark always 
     made for a nice ending to a very long day.
       Detective John M. Gibson was a cop's cop. Anytime John was 
     working and there was some police action happening on Capitol 
     Hill, John would be there. It might be standing in an 
     intersection wearing a suit and directing traffic, assisting 
     with the evacuation of a Congressional building that was on 
     fire, or providing a backup for a fellow officer. John was 
     always there. It was no surprise that John was involved in 
     this kind of heroism. He would have had it no other way. John 
     loved working the security detail for Congressman DeLay and 
     took great pride in the assignment. John was considered to be 
     a part of Congressman DeLay's staff and a very close friend 
     to the DeLay family. John's unselfish actions and personal 
     sacrifice ensured the safety and the lives of Congressman 
     DeLay, his staff, and the public. John was an excellent 
     police officer, a great partner and a wonderful friend. You 
     will be missed.
       There is an inscription on the National Police Memorial in 
     Washington, D.C. by Vivian Eney, another survivor of a fallen 
     Capitol Police Officer. This inscription is a fitting tribute 
     to both Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson: ``It's not how 
     these Officers died that made them heroes. It's how they 
     lived.''


 kelly Potter, a trustee for the D.C. Lodge of the Fraternal Order of 
                                 Police

       I keep this poem on my refrigerator at home, which I 
     thought was appropriate:


                         a part of america died

     Somebody killed a policeman today, and
     A part of America died.
     A piece of our country he swore to protect
     Will be buried with him at his side.
     The suspect who shot him will stand up in court,
     With counsel demanding his rights,
     While a young widowed mother must
     Work for her kids
     And spend alone many nights.
     The best that he walked was a battlefield, too,
     Just as if he'd gone off to war.
     Though the flag of our nation won't fly at half mast,
     To his name, they will add a gold star.
     Yes, somebody killed a policeman today.
     It happened in your town or mine.
     While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors,
     A cop put his life on the line.
     Now his ghost walks a beat on a dark city street,
     And he stands at each new rookie's side.
     He answered the call and gave us his all,
     And a part of America died.


                  shawna barnett, former delay staffer

       May John's kind nature and selfless acts remind us always 
     of our fallen hero. He is out of our grasp but so very close 
     to our hearts.


                      tom vincent, de lay staffer

       The biggest thing I remember was his sense of humor. I keep 
     thinking of John taking a special effort to joke and tease 
     Shawna Barnett and keep a smile on her face when she was 
     down. It wasn't just Shawna he kept smiling, he made us all 
     smile.


                     Willy imboden, de lay staffer

       When I reflect on John Gibson, I remember a man of quiet 
     dignity, integrity, and resolve. He possessed a calming 
     presence about him, his steady bearing lending a tranquil air 
     to the constant chaos of Capitol Hill. In many ways, his 18 
     years of patient service to Congress and to the American 
     people culminated finally in the greatest and noblest

[[Page E1479]]

     sacrifice, the laying down of his life for others. I am 
     reminded of the Apostle Paul's words in the Epistle to the 
     Philippians: `Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, 
     but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another 
     as more important than himself; do not merely look out for 
     your own personal interests, but also for the interests of 
     others. Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in 
     Christ Jesus . . .' John Gibson's life and final sacrifice 
     personified this ethic, and we are all humbly and eternally 
     indebted to him.''

     

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