Kendrick Meek: “Mr. Speaker, I am deeply moved by the untimely deaths of these brave heroes, who have shown both valor and bravery in a…”

“Mr. Speaker, I am deeply moved by the untimely deaths of these brave heroes, who have shown both valor and bravery in a time like this. Officer J.J. Chestnut and Mr. John Gibson, a Special Agent, we honor them for caring about us. We honor them for caring about the American people. We honor them ourselves today for keeping us safe and sound. I do respect with a great deal of respect the Capitol Police. To me they are an elite corps. We see them every day. They represent to us the best that is in America. Mr. Chestnut and Mr. Gibson showed us what real bravery is all about. There is a saying that the measure of a man's life is not how he died, but how he lived, and these two men lived for our protection. I am thinking about the words of Walt Whitman: O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done,. The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; But O heart! heart! heart! O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up--for you the flag is flung--for you the bugle trills, For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths--for you the shores a-crowding, For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; Here Captain! dear father! This arm beneath your head!…”