Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Capitol Police Medal Of Honor Ce

Congressional a small practice shooting in june were awarded the medal of honor, a ceremonious capital earlier this month. House majority whip Steve Scalise think think the officer saving his life. Good morning and welcome to United States Capitol Police medal of honor ceremony. I am matthew for derosa, chief of police. Assistant chief and irr to host this ceremony to recognize the many heroes in our midst who faced danger on a baseball field in alexandria, virginia, on jun. To officially start the program would everyone please rise for the presentation of the colors by United States Capitol Police ceremonial unit, the singing of the National Anthem is performed by Sergeant David nelson at ane opening prayer offered by reverend pat conroy, chaplain in i states house of representatives. [background sounds] oh, say, can you see by the dawns early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming . Whose broad stripes and bright stars thro the perilous fight oer the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh, say, does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave . Order. Let us pray. God of mercy, we gather this morning to recognize the men and women in blue, both of the u. S. Capitol police and the Alexandria Police department who responded to the ultimate call in their noble profession, and executed their charge with exemplary courage. Special agents krystal greiner and david bailey, officers nicole, Alexander Jensen and kevin joby our heroes to their colleagues and to all in the u. S. Capital and the city of alexandria. For the Rapid Response to a cowardly attack upon the republican Baseball Team, which was dangerously exposed on a quiet neighborhood ballfield. Thanks to their selfless actions placing themselves in mortal danger, all present that they are with us this day to spy tey to the presence of courageous men and women in our midst. Bless them with all your graciousness as the medal of honor is bestowed upon them here. May they and their families and loved ones know of our appreciation for the sacrifices they make every day so the security of the capital and the city of alexandria is guaranteed. And may we all be inspired to service of others as we are able to express it in our lives and work. And we pray in your most holy name. Amen. Colorguard. Please be seated. Thank you very much. Honored guests, members of congress, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to todays ceremony. This morning is an opportunity for our department to recognize five Heroic Police officers arrest their lives to protect members of congress in citizens during an active shooter incident. Of the paths of muscle come to learn much about this incident and somethings may never be known, however. On june 14, it was a day to change the lives of many people and we can all take great comfort in the fact that for the actions of these officers and the many individuals involved in this event, numerous lives were saved, and tragedies were prevented. What i do know about june 14 is that the bravery of these Police Officers makes me proud to be chief of police. I know that alexandria chief Michael Brown feels the same way but his outstanding offices of will. As someone once said bravery is not the absence of fear. Its its action in the face of. Later today the department will also be recognizing the heroic actions of others involved in this incident and excellent work of those who responded to the scene as well as those involved in the detailed investigation, an attempt to bring closure to this incident. However, today the purpose of the ceremony is to award these five Law Enforcement officers seated here with our departments highest honor medal of valor. Its heartwarming to know that that operate individuals who embody what is right about america, and more specifically what you write about Law Enforcement. These are people who we owe a great debt and a ride to work alongside such brave women and men. Then musician jafar wade noted heroes are good people who make themselves extraordinary. I couldnt agree more. These certified unassuming people who acted in an extraordinary way when fate brought them together on june 14. Its now my pleasure to invite guests to say a few words. Id like welcome the democratic leader of the house of representatives, the honorable nancy pelosi to the podium. Thank you very much, chief. Tanks to you and assistant chief for bring us together this morning so that we can appropriately acknowledge, not that its enough but an expression of our appreciation. So do you, thank you. Its honor to be here with the speaker of the democratic and Republican Leaders of the senate, Chuck Schumer and Mitch Mcconnell, to express the appreciation of all of the members of congress, house and senate, democratic and republican. It is a deep honor to join you to honor the heroes of the tragic congressional baseball shooting in alexandria this past june. We are also pleased to be with representative Steve Scalise, our colleague whose recovery is a blessing to us all, to seem healthy and walking is to see our prayers answered. We thank jennifer and his children madison and harrison for the constant love and support that have made his recovery so possible. Thank you. Its also a produced beer with zach regards, matthew in the garage republican Baseball Team, coach of joe barton and manager Roger Williams. On behalf of my colleagues we congratulate you on your welldeserved medal of merit. We are in awe of your courage in the face of that despicable attack and commend the sport and since of committee of show each other as you and your colleagues recover. I know that i can say on behalf of the democratic Baseball Team, they are so proud of all of you. During these two years as president of the board of new York City Police commissioners, theater roosevelt he would do so many of us said it was his great honor to single out men then, men, for special mention because of some feet of heroism. Today we had the honor of singling out five euros, men and women, in of their extraordinary bravery. Reverend conroy mentioned in earlier but i think that we cannot say their names enough. Special agent david bagley, special agent crystal griner, officer nicole battaglia, officer Alexander Jensen, an officer kevin jobe. For facing in danger for selflessness and meeting violence with courage we are also grateful to figure heroism and grace under pressure is an inspiration to us all. Many of us remember the exact ak Capitol Police he rose nearly 20 years ago. On that afternoon, officer jacob and detective john gibson were brutally gunned down in the line of duty. Today as a celibate the heroes of the alexandria attack we must also mark the service and sacrifice of those to break men. Let us recall the words of the new testament, greater love hath no man that a a man lay down hs life for his friends. There is no greater love than the service that officer Jacob Chestnut and detective john gibson gave to our nation that date. And so when we honor them and we honor our special heroes today we are paying our respect to all of the members of the Capitol Police, house and senate. To each of you, our recognition of the bravery that weve seen is recognition of the risk that you take to make the capital of the United States and those who serve here both as members of congress or the senate but also as staff, as press and our visitors who come to see our great democracy in action. So to each and every member of the Capitol Police, thank you. To all of our those who defend this cabinetry thank you again for your courage, patriotism and service. Each stage except duties that demand selflessness and bravery, working long hours and putting yourselves in great risk for others. Every day you serve the members of Congress Come for dignitaries, Staff Members and visitors across the world are safe and secure. Your patriotism and service reminds us that as members of congress, house and senate, of our own responsibility to make a Better Future for all. We are profoundly grateful to you for making that happen. Thank you and god bless you. [applause] thank you, leader pelosi. We really appreciate those kind words. Now joining us is a a democratc leader of the United States standard, the honorable charles schumer. Well, thank you, chief verderosa and who all are about to be honored with either the medal of merit or the medal of honor. I salute you all. The Capitol Police devote themselves entirely to the safety of members of congress and the public who visit our buildings daily. Every morning for many women of the Capitol Police, like all police, under uniform, pray for the kind of the day the rest of us typically enjoy, a routine one. Most days, praise god, this isnt the case. But on the rare and terrible exception, Capitol Police asked to put own lives at risk in the defense of others. I recall the tragedy in 1998 when officers Jacob Chestnut and john gibson gave their lives ensuring safety for the capital. Our purpose is to honor the bravery of the officers who recently met the call of duty under the most horrific of circumstances. Officers who woke up one ordinary morning to escort majority whip scalise to an early baseball practice where they were met by an unexpected and unhinged attacker. Armed with weapons of war. Officers whose Decisive Action propelled by an instinctual courage in selflessness averted tragedy and saved lives. The horror of june 14, 2017, will forever stick in my mind. That an individual with fire upon members of congress practicing for a Charity Baseball game. We are so fortunate for Capitol Police officers crystal griner and david bailey, alexandria officers nicole battaglia, Alexander Jensen and kevin jobe. That morning they, you, heroism personified. And were the ones who are honored to present you with the medal of merit and the medal of honor. Thank you. [applause] thank you, senator schumer. Next please tune in welcoming the honorable Mitch Mcconnell to make his remarks. Thank thank you, chief. Today is another chance for each of us to both recognize and thank the men and women of our Capitol Police force for everything they do to protect our nations capital, the people who work here and the millions who visit this important symbol of our democracy. The United States Capitol Police stand as confident guard to put in service before self. They are deserving of our deepest respect. They earn our unyielding gratitude. Each and every day i have the opportunity to interact with these Law Enforcement officers. They always exhibit professionalism, diligence, and service. Ive had the privilege of working with some of them for many years. I i know them. I am incredible thankful to each of them for their dedication. In addition to the Capitol Police we are also pleased to honor the many other Law Enforcement agencies that responded to that Alexandria Park on june 14 when our own members and staff were under attack. These men and women we are honoring today ran toward the threat and stopped it. And we cant ever thank them enough. When most of us leave home for work on a given day, we have any number of things on our minds, meetings, deadlines, tasks to be accomplished. With a lawenforcement officer walks out the door they never know for sure what a day can bring. And neither do their families. And yet they walk out the door just the same because for them what they do is more than just a job or a career. Its a calling. We are so grateful that they do. To underline the point, one need only say this. Its so great to see Steve Scalise with us here today. [applause] along a course with the other members and staff were on the field that day. And truly what a blessing that is, the many women of Law Enforcement go out each day to face the unknown to help and assist people in their community to confront challenges that others simply would not. Why do they do it . Courage, duty, honor. Thats what i think. On behalf of the Senate Family and the Capitol Community i would like to once again share a simple message with the men and women against dates Capitol Police and the alexandria leased department for their harrowing efforts that day. Simple though it may be, it is a sincere and enduring thank you. [applause] thank you, senator mcconnell. Now its my honor to welcome a speaker at the house, the honorable paul ryan. Thank you, chief. And thank you to all of our Capitol Police, and local Law Enforcement. We want you to know that you and your families, they mean so much to us. For many of us you are family to us, and to our families. To see these officers get their due, this really is another milestone in our collective recovery. Even as we have tried to go back to normal, we see that were so close to losing so many of our friends. Seeing steve buzzing around on his scooter makes us feel so grateful. We even route for lsu when it doesnt conflict with her own interest. I know these officers will say that they were doing just their jobs. But we would not be doing ours if we did that move forward without saluting these heroes. Your bravery and gods grace brought us together in those first difficult hours. There is one story from june 14th that i want to share with you quickly. It was about 4 00 in the afternoon that day, an agent bailey came into my office to see me. That day, 4 00. He was on his crutches. His pants were torn. He had his back pocket with, same close. We said that in my office and talked for about ten minutes or so. Bailey is kind of call me walked me through for about ten minutes what had happened. Here i was just jumping on the edge of my chair still thinking about steve, thinking that crystal, think about matt micha. I realize that bailey was putting me at ease. He was reassuring me. Except for the two things i mentioned, the crutches and the ritz close, you wouldve had no idea that just a couple hours earlier, a few hours earlier that day this mans life was in danger. He was the same quiet smiling levelheaded guy that we know. And i just have to say come from talking all the members of the Baseball Team that day, hearing their stories, walking through exactly what the experience and saw happen, it is so Crystal Clear that so many lives would have been taken that day if it were not for these five people. [applause] this medal honors actions taken to save lives in the face of danger. May honor the grace and selflessness that his opposition in the days and weeks after as well. They sought the spotlight. They never do that. But that quiet professionalism, that courage, its their training, it is a code that we can all learn from it and truly draw some inspiration from it. It is what united as after this attack. It is how weve emerged stronger as a family. I think i think its how we areg stronger as an institution, this branch of government. So just on behalf of all of us here in congress, the country and congress as an institution, thank you for saving the lives of our friends. We will always be in your debt. Thank you. [applause] thank you mr. Speaker. Before i present our first award i would like to three special presentations. First, id like to invite the coach and mentor of the republican team, represented joe barton, representative Roger Williams to join on center stage. The department would like to present congressman barton and williams on behalf of the entire republican Baseball Team the medal of merit. This medal is awarded to citizen for a number of reasons, among them is for demonstrating courage in an emergency. In recognition of heroism and bravery displayed by members, colleagues, and friends on the practice field during the alexandria shooting incident on june 14, 2017, as well as providing immediate aid and lifesaving measures to those who were wounded as a result of the shooting i present the team the medal of merit. [applause] many thanks to both of you. Next i would doubt ask matt mika to join the for a special presentation. Department like to present you with United States Capitol Police medal of merit. The inscription reads in recognition of your bravery for the critical injuries sustained during the alexandria shooting incident occurring on june 14, 2017, presented with the medal of merit. [applause] congratulations,