Page 8 - May John News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Brianna, we award your dad the congressional medal of honor. i know he's looking down on you right now from heaven, proud of this day, but even more proud of the incredible young women that you have both become. it's great to know you. great to have met you, thank you. we're also grateful to be joined by john's wonderful mom, terry, his sister, lori, his brother, kevin, and valerie's parents, rita and jim novak. thank you all for being here. a very great honor. [ applause ] although she could not be here today, somebody that john loved very much, his sister, tammy. so please give our regards. ...

>> talk about that special community. as you accept it, do you want people to keep in mind folks like john who are still doing that job? >> yes. people need to realize that our men and women are still defending us in every corner of the globe right now. just because we don't have lots of casualties and big battles going on anymore, they are still out there fighting every day. and we've forgotten about it. >> i'm so glad she said that because we do lose sight of the fact there are thousands, just in afghanistan alone and in other places in the world. this is a big deal for a number of reasons. ...

Welcoming a wonderful family that i just met in the oval office, the chapman family. thank you. please stand up. [ applause ] and to his beautiful wife, valerie, who agrees that he was a very brave man right from the beginning. right? you knew that. i know this day has truly brought special meaning. exactly 26 years ago, you married john. today is our great honor to share his incredible story with the world, so thank you very much, valerie, appreciate it. and your daughters, madison and

Point he was shot down and appeared not to be moving but as the rest of his team is driven off this mountain under withering enemy fire, he gets back up and goes back at it, even defending another helicopter coming in with reinforcements. so they have watched this unfold, knowing he was a hero, but only realizing in the last few years the extent of that heroism. i spoke with valerie, his wife, who you'll be seeing shortly here receiving this. we talked about this day and this moment. >> have you thought about what it's going to be like to formally accept the medal of honor on john's behalf? >>...

Opportunity to honor john chapman with america's highest decoration for his heroic valor, to honor the enduring sacrifice his family carries deeply within their hearts, and to honor the legacy, inspiration that john has infused into the mission, the leadership and the operations of air force special tactics. lord, your just intent of overcoming evil with good in this world through human agency found fearless expression in john, even in the face of death so others may live. we thank you for john. we thank you for his family. we thank you for his unforgettable life and love shaped by your very s...