Marsha Blackburn: “yesterday, Tennesseans were really filled with a bittersweet pride as President Trump awarded posthumously the Public…”

“yesterday, Tennesseans were really filled with a bittersweet pride as President Trump awarded posthumously the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to a heroic Tennessean, Sergeant Verdell Smith. His watch with the Memphis Police Department ended on June 4, 2016. On that day, an armed gunman stole a car and led Memphis police on a chase into the downtown area. Officer Smith responded to the call and worked quickly to clear the pedestrians from an intersection directly in the path of a speeding car. Then the unthinkable happened. Before the police were able to apprehend him, the gunman crashed through a barrier and fatally struck Officer Smith. Valor is a word that is defined as ``great personal bravery.'' Valor, you don't hear it a lot, but valor is that great personal bravery in the face of danger, and I think there is no better way to describe the actions of Officer Smith. I honor him on behalf of all Tennesseans for his service in the U.S. Navy, for his 18 years with the Memphis Police Department, and for his final act of heroism. ____________________”