| I was honored to have dinner with the Capitol police officers whose heroic efforts to protect our Capitol on January 6th, 2021 won them an American Spirit Award from the Common Good. Officers Michael Fanone, Harry Dunn and Aquilino Gonell (as well as the late Brian Sicknick, whose mother accepted a posthumous award for his heroism) heroically defended our Capitol against an assault on our nation’s most important symbol of democracy, and did not flinch in the face of that unprecedented onslaught. Listening to their stories of how they held their ground on that day, I was struck by the nobility of their service, and saddened to hear of the trauma they still shoulder. It was my honor to shake their hands and commend them for their bravery during the first breach of our Capitol in American history. |
