July 27, 1998

Mr. President, I join other colleagues of ours who today, and I hope tomorrow as well, will find time to express their deep sense of sorrow over the loss of two of our Capitol Hill police officers last Friday, as well as to express their sincere condolences to the families and friends of these two very fine officers, J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson.

The events of last Friday, July 24, certainly will leave an indelible mark on this community--this Capitol community, if you will--and our Nation. The tragic legacy of this incident will not only be the courage displayed opposing this senseless act of savagery but will also be the premature loss of these two fine, brave men.

J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson were not just courageous officers, they were fine human beings. They were friends of many here and in the House of Representatives. All of us in this Chamber cannot help but take this loss personally, because Officers Chestnut and Gibson worked every day to ensure the safety of each and every one of us in this Capitol Building. I think that every American should look into their hearts and thank these two men for their sacrifices, because they also worked to protect all of those who visit this great Capitol Building, this symbol of democracy, as well as the freedoms which the Capitol represents.

All Americans should give thanks and say a prayer for these two fine men and all of the men and women in uniform throughout our Nation who take that oath to ensure our safety every day. Our police officers are husbands, they are parents and friends, they are neighbors--in many ways, ordinary citizens just like the rest of us. But in one very important way, these individuals are quite extraordinary. Every day when they put on their uniforms, their work clothes, and they say goodbye to their families and go to work, they literally put their lives on the line so that we may enjoy the safety and the freedoms that too often, I think, we take for granted. We describe their actions as heroism, but they simply view them as their duty.

President John Kennedy once said:

The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy. A man does what he must--in spite of the personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures--and that is the basis of all morality."

While we will forever remember Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson for their actions on July 24, they deserve our respect and admiration not only for the way they performed their duties on that day but for the way they and those who share a similar uniform carry themselves every day throughout their lives--always working in the service of others, with great courage and character.

It is important that we remember not only those who gave their lives but also express our gratitude to those who are left to carry on their mission.

Officers Chestnut and Gibson's colleagues must put these events behind them and carry on with their everyday lives and continue performing the services that are so important. We are all very grateful for the sacrifices they make every day and the commitment to their communities that these men and women display.

It has been ordered that their bodies will lie in state in the Capitol rotunda tomorrow, the same Capitol where they gave their lives in service to their country. This honor is usually reserved for our Nation's most prominent leaders, Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, and Generals. But I know all of us in this Chamber feel that this is an appropriate tribute to the two men whose commitment to their country and their community is surpassed by none.

J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson leave behind loving wives and children. I offer my heartfelt condolences to both families and their friends, and, on behalf of this body, I know I speak for all of our colleagues in saying they will long be remembered for their friendship and their courage.