[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 24, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8103-S8104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN MEMORY OF OFFICERS GIBSON AND CHESTNUT

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, in about 1 minute we will be observing a 
moment of silence in memory of Officers Gibson and Chestnut.
  As my colleagues will recall, it was 3 years ago to the minute these 
unfortunate and tragic deaths occurred. I ask at the appropriate time, 
which is now, that we observe a moment of silence.
  (The Senate observed a moment of silence.)
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I appreciate my colleagues' and 
everyone's attention. If I may say for a moment, I remember this day 3 
years ago as if it occurred just yesterday. I did not know Officers 
Gibson and Chestnut personally, but I knew them, and as we all 
recognize, we take for granted all too often the tremendous service 
provided to us by our police and by those who guard our security each 
and every day.
  The loss of life under circumstances such as this is all the more 
tragic when you appreciate their dedication to public service, their 
commitment to our good health and security, and the recognition that 
their families still grieve their loss.
  I know I speak on behalf of the entire Senate in wishing the families 
of Detective Gibson and Officer Chestnut our very best and most 
heartfelt wishes and recognition, once again, of their tremendous 
dedication to public service and their commitment to us and to all 
those who survive and continue to work each and every day, in keeping 
with the spirit and dedication that they so ably demonstrated.
  Mr. LEAHY. Will the distinguished leader yield?
  Mr. DASCHLE. I will be happy to yield.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I associate myself with the words of our 
distinguished leader. I came over to the Senate for the express purpose 
of this moment.
  Like the distinguished leader, I recall this tragedy. I had just 
arrived in Vermont on that day, and I recall when the police officers 
in the airport said: Senator, have you heard what happened? Any of us 
who has served in law enforcement has a sense of what goes through 
everybody's mind.
  I thought of Officer Chestnut who just a few days before as I was 
going through the door stopped me and said my wife had just gone 
through. We were at some event up here. I do not even remember now what 
the event was. He said: I sent your wife on up. He said as a joke: You 
must be late because you are behind her. That is a family thing.
  Detective Gibson traveled with different groups I had been with when 
we had hearings outside Washington and had gone with Senators on 
different events. A lot of times we were around when there would be 
dignitaries up here, and he would recognize the different Senators. It 
was always the same thing: He would see us or a family member: Here, 
come on through; and he would take care of us.
  It can sometimes be very easy to take for granted the law enforcement 
around the Capitol. There is a significant law enforcement presence. It 
is, as the distinguished leader said, like family. We see them and are 
with them, and yet when something such as this happens, you realize 
they are the line of defense between us and that tiny, tiny, tiny 
fraction of people in this country who would do injury, not to us 
individually but to really the symbols of our Government.
  I thank the distinguished leader for his words. I know they are words 
that

[[Page S8104]]

will be joined by Senators on both sides of the aisle.
  Mr. SARBANES. Will the distinguished Senator yield?
  Mr. DASCHLE. I will be happy to yield.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I thank the leader for offering this 
moment of silence in honor of Detective Gibson and Officer Chestnut and 
the sacrifice they made. It represents the sacrifice so many men and 
women make each day in the Capitol so that the Nation's business is 
transacted.
  I know both their families, of course, and I know how much the loss 
impacted them, how deeply they felt it. It is very fitting and 
appropriate that we should just bring our business to a halt, pause, 
and remember their tremendous contribution, their tremendous sacrifice, 
and that of many others who work here each and every day. I thank the 
leader for doing this.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I thank the Senator.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I personally associate myself with the 
leader's remarks and that of my two colleagues. I also knew Officer 
Chestnut. He was a Prince George's County guy. In fact, he was days 
from retirement. He would probably be fishing on the Chesapeake Bay now 
with his grandchildren.
  As we remark and express our gratitude for the men and women who 
protect us every day, we also have to think about their spouses, and we 
need to think about their children. They would not be here without 
their love and support. This is why, as we honor those who protect us, 
we also remember the families who support them so they can do so.
  I thank the leader for pausing, and God bless the souls of those men, 
and God bless the men and women who protect us and their families.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I yield to the Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I had occasion with four distinguished 
Senators to travel through Vermont. We had Detective Gibson and Officer 
Chestnut travel with us to ensure our security. They were wonderful and 
most efficient. In fact, it is not easy to maneuver four Senators 
around and keep track of them and their spouses and keep them on 
schedule.
  We got to feeling closer to them under those circumstances. They were 
two wonderful men. I feel a certain sadness of the memories connected 
with that. They were truly wonderful, and their families, of course, we 
all got to know after this tragedy. They are fantastic people.
  I echo the comments of the Senators from Maryland in making sure we 
watch out for them.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I thank the Senator from Vermont.
  I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Johnson). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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