Pat Danner: “the Bible tells us, greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. I rise today to…”

“the Bible tells us, greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. I rise today to join my fellow Members of Congress to honor the memory of John Gibson and Jacob Chestnut, who died defending not only our lives but democracy itself. These men were our friends, like so many Capitol Hill police officers who serve and protect us day after day, Congress after Congress, decade after decade. They do so with a quiet dedication and an obvious devotion. Whether helping a Member of Congress or any of the millions of visitors who come to Capitol Hill every year, Capitol Hill police play a vital role in assuring that American democracy works. They do so with thousands of acts of devotion and dedication to their duty. We know they may have to perform the ultimate act of devotion, but we also pray that they never do. John Gibson and Jacob Chestnut made the supreme sacrifice, and we know they did so without hesitation. They were our friends, our protectors, and they laid down their lives, not only for us, but for the freedom that this institution represents.”