[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 125 (Friday, September 18, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H8078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RENAMING THE CAPITOL HILL POLICE HEADQUARTERS IN MEMORY OF OFFICERS
ENEY AND CHESTNUT AND DETECTIVE GIBSON
(Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I have today introduced in the House a
concurrent resolution. That resolution renames the headquarters of the
Capitol Police in the memory of Officers Christopher Eney, Jacob
Chestnut and Detective John Gibson. I am introducing this resolution
along with Senator Paul Sarbanes, and I know that many Members on both
sides of the aisle will want to cosponsor it as well.
Mr. Speaker, these men are fallen heroes of the Capitol Police.
Officer Eney lost his life during a training exercise in August of
1984. He was the first Capitol officer to lose his life. As we
tragically know, Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson were struck down
in the line of duty just a few weeks ago on July 24. They were
defending this Capitol, innocent citizens, staff and Members from a
maniacal and senseless shooting spree at this Capitol.
Mr. Speaker, August 24, 1984, and July 24, 1998 will forever remind
us that the risk is always present for those we ask to defend this free
society. The Capitol police force, as a family who wish to honor the
colleagues of the family who died while performing their duties by
renaming their headquarters after them.
This resolution would rename the United States Capitol Police
Headquarters as ``The Eney Chestnut Gibson Memorial Building.'' This
was popularly selected by the Capitol police and reflects the order in
which each man lost his life.
I am proud and honored on behalf of all of my colleagues to work with
Senator Sarbanes and his colleagues in the Senate to honor these heroes
and their families.
Mr. Speaker, these men and women of law enforcement, like those we
ask to join the armed forces and defend freedom abroad, are responsible
for us being able to meet in this body in a society that honors peace
and order and law. The least we can do as a people is to honor our
fallen officers by naming the headquarters where they served with
dignity and pride.
I know that my colleagues will want to join me in cosponsoring this
resolution.
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