[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 122 (Thursday, July 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7245-S7246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR OFFICER CHESTNUT AND DETECTIVE GIBSON

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois is recognized.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, under a previous order, at 3:40, we will 
observe a moment of silence. At the conclusion of that moment of 
silence, Members are encouraged to exit the Chamber and proceed to the 
tree planting on the east front of the Capitol. Staff from the Sergeant 
at Arms office will be at the door exiting the Chamber near the 
Republican cloakroom to direct Members.
  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. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Under the previous order, the Senate will now observe a moment of 
silence in memory of Detective John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut 
who lost their lives on July 24, 1998.
  (Moment of silence.)
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, July 24 always brings a sense of sadness 
to the Capitol and a sense of gratitude. We feel sadness over the loss 
of Officer J.J. Chestnut and Detective John Gibson who died 10 years 
ago today on their posts doing jobs they loved in this great American 
building. We also feel a deep sense of gratitude to Officer Chestnut 
and Detective Gibson for their service and sacrifice and to the men and 
women of the U.S. Capitol Police Department who continue to stand guard 
every day to protect this Capitol and all who work and visit here. 
Because of their dedication and professionalism, the doors of the 
people's House have remained open, as they should be, and our Nation 
owes them a debt of gratitude.
  Officer Jacob Joseph Chestnut--``J.J.'' to all his friends--and 
Detective John Michael Gibson were good men, good police officers, 
husbands and fathers, who both gave 18 years of distinguished service 
to the U.S. Capitol Police department.
  For J.J. Chestnut, this was a second career, after 20 years in the 
Air Force, including two tours in Vietnam.
  He greeted everyone--Congress Members and visitors--with the same 
warm smile. He treated everyone with dignity. After he died, we learned 
that he used to take clothes to a political activist, whom many called 
``homeless,'' who kept a daily vigil near the door where Officer 
Chestnut was posted--just feet from where he died. He loved his work, 
his friends, his vegetable garden--and most of all, his family.
  John Gibson was a transplanted New Englander who loved hockey, the 
Boston Bruins, the Red Sox and, most of all, his wife and their three 
teenage children.
  They died at their posts in the Capitol, at the hands of a deranged 
man with a gun and a history of serious mental illness.
  They lie today with other American heroes in Arlington National 
Cemetery.
  Their deaths have left an indelible mark on those of us who work in 
this great symbol of our democracy.
  Just now, as we observed a moment of silence in this chamber, the 
Speaker of the House and the majority and minority leaders of both the 
House and Senate--Democrats and Republicans--observed a moment of 
silence at the Memorial Door of the Capitol.
  The leaders will lay a wreath at the bronze plaque that bears the 
names and likenesses of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson.
  Then, together, they will walk outside and help plant a tree on the 
grounds of the U.S. Capitol to honor these two fallen heroes. It is a 
Valley Forge American Elm--a strong, sturdy, quintessentially American 
tree. In the years to come, it will grow tall and shelter visitors from 
the sun, just as J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson sheltered visitors from 
harm.
  In addition to their plaque and their new tree, there are other, more 
personal reminders of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson in this 
Capitol.
  When John Gibson died, a woman who had taught both of his son's in 
grade school wrote the boys a letter in which she said their father had 
died a brave man and his legacy would always be a part of them. Jack 
and Danny were teenagers then.
  Today, Danny Gibson works for the Senate Sergeant at Arms.
  Officer Jack Gibson is 2-year veteran of the U.S. Capitol Police 
Department.
  Officer Chestnut's son-in-law, Officer Jason Culpepper, is also a 
U.S. Capitol Police officer.
  That says a great deal about the dedication of these two families to 
public service and safety.
  To these fine men--to Wendy Chestnut and Lyn Gibson, and all of the 
Chestnut and Gibson children and family members, and to their friends 
and colleagues--we offer our condolences

[[Page S7246]]

and respect on this sad 10-year milestone.
  Madam President, so Members may join in the planting of the tree on 
the Capitol grounds, 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. SANDERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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