[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 31 (Monday, August 3, 1998)]
[Page 1519]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Congressional Tribute Honoring Officer Jacob J. Chestnut 
and Detective John M. Gibson

July 28, 1998

    To the Chestnut and Gibson families and my fellow Americans, the 
Bible defines a good life thusly: ``To love justice, to do mercy, and to 
walk humbly with thy God.''
    Officer J.J. Chestnut and Detective John Gibson loved justice. The 
story of what they did here on Friday in the line of duty is already a 
legend. It is fitting that we gather here to honor these two American 
heroes, here in this hallowed chamber that has known so many heroes, in 
this Capitol they gave their lives to defend.
    And we thank their families for enduring the pain and extra burden 
of joining us here today. For they remind us that what makes our 
democracy strong is not only what Congress may enact or a President may 
achieve; even more, it is the countless individual citizens who live our 
ideals out every day, the innumerable acts of heroism that go unnoticed, 
and especially, it is the quiet courage and uncommon bravery of 
Americans like J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson and, indeed, every one of 
the 81 police officers who just this year have given their lives to 
ensure our domestic tranquility.
    John Gibson and J.J. Chestnut also did mercy in giving their lives 
to save the lives of their fellow citizens. We honor them today, and in 
so doing, we honor also the hundreds of thousands of other officers, 
including all of their comrades, who stand ready every day to do the 
same. They make it seem so ordinary, so expected, asking for no awards 
or acknowledgement, that most of us do not always appreciate--indeed, 
most of the time we do not even see--their daily sacrifice. Until crisis 
reveals their courage, we do not see how truly special they are. And so 
they walked humbly.
    To the Gibsons, to Lyn, Kristen, Jack, and Danny, to the Chestnuts, 
Wenling, Joseph, Janice, Janet, Karen, and William, to the parents, the 
brothers, the siblings, the friends here, you always knew that John and 
J.J. were special. Now the whole world knows as well.
    Today we mourn their loss, and we celebrate their lives. Our words 
are such poor replacements for the joys of family and friends, the 
turning of the seasons, the rhythms of normal life that should 
rightfully have been theirs. But we offer them to you from a grateful 
Nation, profoundly grateful that in doing their duty, they saved lives; 
they consecrated this house of freedom; and they fulfilled our Lord's 
definition of a good life. They loved justice. They did mercy. Now and 
forever, they walk humbly with their God.

Note: The President spoke at 3:30 p.m. in the United States Capitol 
Rotunda. The transcript made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary also included the remarks of Vice President Al Gore. Officer 
Chestnut and Detective Gibson died as a result of gunshot wounds 
suffered during an attack at the Capitol on July 24.