Barbara Kennelly: “we gather to pay tribute tonight to the lives of the heroes who died on Friday, true heroes Officer J.J. Chestnut and…”

“we gather to pay tribute tonight to the lives of the heroes who died on Friday, true heroes Officer J.J. Chestnut and Detective John Gibson. Like many of my colleagues, on Friday I had a hearing, I had meetings, I went back and forth to the Capitol, but I did not think about my safety. I certainly did not think about the safety of the tourists because I know that the Capitol Police are here, brave men and women sworn to protect those who come to this building to visit and all of us who work in this building. Tragically, I was right. Two of those individuals were on duty and were suddenly thrust into the most deadly of circumstances. That this building reopened on Saturday testifies to the awesome truth as they did their duty of protecting this building, they protected the liberty and freedom and democracy that it stands for. We gather tonight to pay this tribute to these men, and we feel so strongly and so sadly about their deaths, but we stand here tonight, all of us gathered today, in sympathy to say that we will make sure that their memories are kept by keeping this building the way they wanted it, a place of peace, a place of hope, a place of democracy.”