[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 107 (Monday, August 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                               IN TRIBUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 28, 1998

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, at a time like this, it is difficult to 
find appropriate words that do justice to the people you are honoring. 
Officers Jacob J. Chestnut and John Gibson made the ultimate sacrifice 
to protect the People's House--the U.S. Capitol. A great American--
President Abraham Lincoln--would see the great significance of their 
sacrifice and understand what J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson gave their 
lives to protect.
  The rotunda where their bodies will lie in state is shielded by a 
great dome built during the dark days of the Civil War. President 
Lincoln knew in his heart that the Capitol is more than just a 
building, that the Capitol stands as a symbol of freedom and serves as 
the seat of democracy. President Lincoln believed this so strongly that 
he demanded the work being done to raise the dome proceed, despite the 
war and its drain on government resources. He knew that completing the 
Capitol dome would show America that the United States would stand 
despite the grueling war then being waged.
  Soldiers fighting to preserve the United States and protect the 
Capitol camped on the same floor where officer's Chestnut and Gibson 
will lie in state today. President Lincoln's words uttered on a 
Gettysburg battlefield nearly 135 years ago are proper to honor these 
two protectors of freedom who fell in the line of duty.

       . . . We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as 
     a final resting place for those who here gave their lives 
     that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and 
     proper that we should do this.
       But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate--we cannot 
     consecrate--we cannot hallow--this ground. The brave men, 
     living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far 
     above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little 
     note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never 
     forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, 
     to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who 
     fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for 
     us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before 
     us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion 
     to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of 
     devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall 
     not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall 
     have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the 
     people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish 
     from the earth.

  In their lives and deaths, these two brave officers helped keep the 
dream alive, the dream shared by Abraham Lincoln and by Americans from 
coast to coast and from year to year, the dream to preserve a 
government of, by and for the people. Our prayers go out to the 
families of these brave men and our thanks for the sacrifice that was 
made to protect and preserve freedom.

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