Weather
The Pine Tree, News for Calaveras County and Beyond Weather
Amador Angels Camp Arnold Bear Valley Copperopolis Murphys San Andreas Valley Springs Moke Hill/West Point Tuolumne
News
Business Directory
Weather & Roads
Sports
Real Estate
Search
Weekly & Grocery Ads
Entertainment
Life & Style
Government
Law Enforcement
Business
Wine News
Health & Fitness
Home & Garden
Food & Dining
Religion & Faith
Frogtown USA
Calendar
Polls
Columns
Free Classifieds
Letters to the Editor
Obituaries
About Us


Log In
Username

Password

Remember Me



Posted by: thepinetree on 04/14/2021 08:14 AM Updated by: thepinetree on 04/14/2021 08:14 AM
Expires: 01/01/2026 12:00 AM
:

President Biden at a Congressional Tribute for U.S. Capitol Police Officer William Evans

Washington, DC...Madam Speaker; Majority Leader Schumer; Minority Leader McCarthy; my friend, Minority — Minority Leader McConnell; members of Congress; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Milley; Attorney General Garland; Mayor Bowser; all the Capitol Hill Police and all that are here to pay tribute to this Capitol policeman who fell in the line of duty; Acting Chief Pittman, and the men and women of the Capitol Police Force: I’m sorry — the second time in two months we have such a ceremony.





And, you know, Mom, I didn’t know Billy, but I knew Billy. I grew up with Billys in Claymont and Scranton, Pennsylvania. Billy was always the kid that you know if you got in a fight and you’re outnumbered three to one, he’d still jump in, knowing you’d both get beaten.

He was the one who always kept his word. If he said he’d be there, he’d be there. He was the one who, just like the folks I grew up with, wasn’t capable of saying no when you needed him.

You know, just like you, Officer Kenny Shaver was injured in the attack with Billy. And never has there been more strain — and I’ve been here a long time; I’ve been here since 1972 as U.S. senator — ’73 — has so much strain and responsibility been placed on the shoulders — the shoulders of Capitol Police. And yet, you hear it, you see it, you watch them, and you watch them do their duty with pure courage and not complain.

You know, Sergeant Kyle King, I’m sorry you had to make the call — that telephone call that every family dreads when they have a son or daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister in uniform. Because every morning — every morning they pin that badge on, go to work, they expect to come home. In the back of your minds, “We’ll never get that call.”

You knew Billy since grade school. I think it was the fourth grade. I got to deal with all the guys that I grew up and knew in fourth grade. When one passes away, the other one has to give up because he has too much information about you, too much to leave behind. But, you know, I’m sure all those memories from North Adams and Clarksburg never changed who Billy was.

He was defined by his dignity, his decency, his loyalty, and his courage. And, Mom, that’s because of you and his Dad. That’s how it happened — not by accident.

Mrs. Evans, you have — I have some idea of what you’re feeling like. I buried two of my children. And people have come up to you and are going to come up to you for some time and say, “I know how you feel.” They’re going to say that to sis. They’re going to say that to the kids. They’re going to say that to his former wife. And after a while — you know everybody means well — you feel like saying, “You have no idea.”

But the truth is that a time is going to come, I promise you — not believable now — when a memory, a fragrance, a scene, a circumstance, the way his son tilts his head the way he did when he was that age — it’s going to bring back the memory. And for the longest time, it’s going to feel like, at that moment, that memory — it’s going to feel like you got the phone call just that moment ago. And there are going to be people celebrating Billy’s life. And as much as you appreciate it — all of you — it also is hard; you relive everything again.

You know, I — I got a phone call when I first got here and lost my family — part of my family — from a person I never knew, never met: the former governor of New Jersey, who was literally 40 — 45 years my senior. And he told me he knew how I felt. And I didn’t say anything.

He said, “I know what you’re thinking.” He said, “But I did know.” He said, “I used to come home — I was the Attorney General of New Jersey before I was Governor. And I’d come home for lunch because I lived just across the green from my office. And one day, a woman who helped out at our home came running across the green saying, ‘She’s gone. She’s gone.’”

His wife had had an aneurysm. And he said, “You know what I did?” He said, “I kept — I kept a — I got graph paper, and four months out, I would put the month on it and then a horizontal line. I’d put the date and the month. In the vertical line, I put the numbers 1 to 10. Ten would be the happiest day of my life, and one would be like the moment I got the phone call.”

And he said, “And every night before I’d go to bed, I’d graph it. I’d put on a dot on that day where I was.” And he said, “Don’t look at it for three or four months. He said, “And you’ll look at it and you’ll see.” He’d put it on a graph — graph. “The downs are just as far down, but they get further and further and further apart.”

That’s how you’re all going to know that you’re going to make it — by holding each other together, and most importantly, by holding Logan and Abigail as tightly as you can. Because as long as you have them, you’ve got Billy. As long as you have them.

You know, my prayer for all of you is that a day will come when you have that memory, and I’ve said, “Just smile before you bring a tear to your eyes.” It’s — I promise you it’s going to come. It just takes a while. It takes a while.

But when it comes, you’ll know, because he’s still with you. He’s still in your heart.

Losing a son, daughter, brother, sister, mom, dad — it’s like losing a piece of your soul. But it’s buried deep, but it comes back.

There’s a great quote by R.G. Ingersoll. It was read when my son, who was the chief law enforcement officer in the state of Delaware — the attorney general — came back from Iraq after a year and he — and he died. And they read this poem from R.G. Ingersoll, who said, “When will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns compromise with death, this is heroism.”

Your son, your husband, your brother, your dad was a hero. And he’s part of you. It’s in your blood.

My prayer for you is that moment when a smile comes before the tear, quicker than longer. Thank you.



Comments - Make a comment
The comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for its content. We value free speech but remember this is a public forum and we hope that people would use common sense and decency. If you see an offensive comment please email us at news@thepinetree.net
No Subject
Posted on: 2021-04-14 08:19:38   By: Anonymous
 

#NOTMYPRESIDENT

#RECALLNEWSOM


[Reply ]

    Re:
    Posted on: 2021-04-14 08:40:04   By: Anonymous
     
    Better stay tuned in on this president. We are all now in a heap of trouble!! Just wait and see! Yes, Trump had issues but, nothing like Biden. Your vote was the wrong choice, big time mistake!

    [Reply ]

      Re: Plugs to the rescue!
      Posted on: 2021-04-14 08:52:36   By: Anonymous
       
      Everything is ok as long as there is a back-up teleprompter close by.

      [Reply ]

        Re: Plugs to the rescue! Stay tuned
        Posted on: 2021-04-14 09:02:59   By: Anonymous
         
        Yes, Biden won the election.
        Trump was/is the loser.
        Heap of trouble because of Biden? Get real SRS. As soon as you admit that Trump had no morals AND was unfit to be PotUS, then some of us will respectfully respond to your outlook on life.

        [Reply ]

          Re: Plugs to the rescue! Stay tuned
          Posted on: 2021-04-14 09:04:48   By: Anonymous
           
          Another brain dead Liberal Socialist responds. Damn Fools.

          [Reply ]

            MAGA Cry Babies
            Posted on: 2021-04-14 09:40:13   By: Anonymous
             
            Just move on. Like the country and moved on without you.

            [Reply ]

        Re: Plugs to the rescue!
        Posted on: 2021-04-14 09:39:19   By: Anonymous
         
        Why the hate for a Teleprmoter? Your boy Tucker Carlson uses one? Why not the CiC?

        [Reply ]

          Re: Plugs to the rescue!
          Posted on: 2021-04-14 11:23:15   By: Anonymous
           
          That's the problem with the MAGA crowd. They don't have any legitimate reasons to complain. It's like when Fox got the vapors over Obama in a Tan Suit.

          So long, GOP. You had a good run there for a hundred years or so. We'll miss you. Call us when you find a competent leadership that doesn't include Tump or Cruz or Gatez or Taylor Greene or all the other deplorables.

          [Reply ]

            Re: Plugs to the rescue!
            Posted on: 2021-04-14 12:27:11   By: Anonymous
             


            To all the demoCraps:

            Enjoying the higher gas prices?

            Enjoying the 100,000 of people carrying the COVID Virus coming over the border everyday?


            Enjoying the job Gruesome Newsom is doing?

            Have you actually seen the district Nancy Pelosi is in charge of? Homeless filth everywhere!!

            DemoCraps are truly ruining this once great country!

            #IMPEACHBIDEN

            #RECALLNEWSOM

            [Reply ]

              Re: Plugs to the rescue!
              Posted on: 2021-04-14 13:33:30   By: Anonymous
               
              Dude. Are you OK? I 'm genuinely worried about someone who says these things. It's OK to admit you're struggling with emotional issues. Reach out to someone. Ask for help. Talk to a doctor.

              These are all red flags os serious mental afflictions.

              [Reply ]

                Re: Plugs to the rescue!
                Posted on: 2021-04-15 04:36:09   By: Anonymous
                 


                Your the one who needs mental help a$$hole!!

                If you all truly think Biden, Polosi, Newsom, and the cackling hyena VP Harris are doing a great job then I would suggest seeking mental health services immediately because all their doing is lying to your faces and you all are dumb enough to eat it all up!! Democrats are truly ruining this once great nation!!


                [Reply ]

      Re:
      Posted on: 2021-04-14 09:38:41   By: Anonymous
       
      This country is in the best shape it's been in over the last 5 years. Just tell the MAGA losers to put on a mask and get vaccinated so we can get back to reopening the country.

      The "Still Trumpers" are exhausting. Why not "Still Nixon". or "Still Regan"? They are both about as likely to win the next election as Trump.

      [Reply ]

        Re:
        Posted on: 2021-04-14 09:55:53   By: Anonymous
         
        President Biden is doing a fantastic job. Thank you. Trump was unfit to be president

        [Reply ]

          Re:
          Posted on: 2021-04-14 10:39:26   By: Anonymous
           
          You are just as demented as Fingers Joe. Prove to all of us that Sloppy Joe is a better President. I am waiting! Just what I thought, an ignorant Hillbilly Demorat that doesn't know what the fuk that they are talking about!

          [Reply ]

            Delusional Rightees
            Posted on: 2021-04-14 10:59:17   By: Anonymous
             
            A sad sorry bunch here that believes proven lies.
            The nicknames and insults indicate juvenile behavior, the main hallmark of conservatives.

            Who needs proven truth, facts, when you can have Q and Republican crap ?

            Goebbels- " tell a big lie,repeat it often, the public will believe it".

            [Reply ]

              Re: Delusional Rightees
              Posted on: 2021-04-14 11:24:39   By: Anonymous
               
              Can you believe these people may live in our Community? I still see TRUMP 2020 flags... it makes me feel so sorry for those left behind.

              [Reply ]

            Re:
            Posted on: 2021-04-14 11:20:31   By: Anonymous
             
            Who is the ignorant fool who posts these messages about 'fingers' and such? It's so sad to discover this is what Calaveras has become. You can have not voted for the man, but that's reason to not practice decency in your life.

            just another angry old white man who watches Fox news I guess...

            [Reply ]

            Re:
            Posted on: 2021-04-14 11:26:03   By: Anonymous
             
            Tumps petty trade wars destroyed our great companies. Thank you President Biden for helping us move forward.

            [Reply ]

              Re: So many ignorant Dolts on the left
              Posted on: 2021-04-14 13:20:22   By: Anonymous
               
              What an idiot you pea brain lefties are, Trump brought back American Manufacturing you Dolt!!! Giving large corporations tax breaks brought manufacturing in America UP OVER 28 PERCENT!!! Why did 3 BILLION DOLLAR COMPANIES LEAVE CA LAST YEAR? Newsom hit them with taxes AGAIN. They went to Texas, along with thousands of other smaller companies. Even Google won't hide that from you like most left news media. Try using that little tiny brain of yours and look it up. Something tells me you're too dense to know how, but a kid in middle school can do it for you, frickin idiot.

              [Reply ]

                Re: So many ignorant Dolts on the left
                Posted on: 2021-04-14 13:30:41   By: Anonymous
                 
                Companies leaving for Texas are doing so because they want to pay employees 33% less. I know because that's how I got into early retirement. I could move with company at a pay cut.. or retire.

                Let's not celebrate states racing to be the one who pays their employees the least. That's the end of the American Dream and why my kids will be the first generation to have less wealth than their parents.

                I get the impression you're only interested in 1 side of the story. You should probably do more reading.

                [Reply ]

          Re:
          Posted on: 2021-04-14 11:20:47   By: Anonymous
           
          +1

          [Reply ]

            Re: Plugs to the rescue!
            Posted on: 2021-04-14 12:21:13   By: Anonymous
             
            Back to the teleprompter poster. Last time I checked, Tucker Carlson was not the president. Our current president, Plugs, can't tell you what day it is without his teleprompter. President Trump was capable of talking without a teleprompter because he knew the issues. He was lied about by the media so was relegated to using Tweeter so to get his side of the story heard. His idea of "making America first" was and is the best philosophy for our country. CNN and MSDNC never had the guts to report without bias because of their liberal ownership.

            [Reply ]

              Re: Plugs to the rescue!
              Posted on: 2021-04-14 12:41:36   By: Anonymous
               
              And most of us are happy today while you're just a whiny loser.

              [Reply ]

              Re: Plugs to the rescue!
              Posted on: 2021-04-14 13:26:53   By: Anonymous
               
              Not even you think that's true. It's just so sad watching you (the guy who calls the President of the United States "Plugs" for some reason) descend into this mental retardation.

              I'm sure you were once a proud American. Now you're just a sad sad person who is an embarrassment to your family and your community. You are dismissed.

              [Reply ]

                Re: Plugs to the rescue!
                Posted on: 2021-04-14 21:38:44   By: Anonymous
                 
                Sorry but the proof is in the basement. Plugs was a total no show during the campaign except for staged gatherings (maybe 20) with teleprompter running the whole show. It's no secret that all of the so-called reporters have to submit their questions ahead of time and are called on in order with the answers already written. Plugs is a disgrace to everyone in office and the American people. Also, Plugs would have been bald by now if not for modern science. The only thing I'm not proud of is the current clowns pretending to be smarter than anyone else.

                [Reply ]

          Re: joe doing a fantastic job. Lol
          Posted on: 2021-04-14 14:32:06   By: Anonymous
           
          Are you kidding. You've drank way to much koolaid. The man's a disaster! Look at the southern border, look at gas prices, which will make everything more expensive. Please look at other means of information than the lying fake msm. CNN busted yesterday. These so call news stations are just propaganda. Wise up! Why would you faithfully follow what the news or corrupt politicians say? Use your God given common sense. Which a lot of people have lost

          [Reply ]

            Re: joe doing a fantastic job. Lol
            Posted on: 2021-04-14 18:13:49   By: Anonymous
             
            Gas Prices? Who the F*ck cares about gas prices when the country is in crisis because anarchists attacked the capital, we have mass murders due to lax gun laws, and our representative congressmen are philandering with 17-year-old girls.

            Gas prices are about #4,000 on the list of things that patriots worry about.

            [Reply ]

    Re: First Lady's procedure was a success, YEA!!!
    Posted on: 2021-04-14 13:11:23   By: Anonymous
     
    I hear the First Lady's procedure was a success!!! Yea!!! That's good news, one less thing to worry about and being the President it's said to be one of the most stressful job there is.
    It's too bad Joe couldn't be with her, but when he heard that it wasn't really a ' removal' that it's actually rearranged, so since he couldn't have it, he didn't go with her.
    I never knew the procedure was more of an arrangement until the better medical term, penile-inversion vaginoplasty. Poor Joe, he thought for a little while he would have the bigger penis between the two. He even called up one of Trump's friends, Caitlyn Jenner and asked if it's really tucked up inside of her now then how does Caitlyn shake it after she pees? After Caitlyn told Joe you don't, Joe was even more confused and curious wanted Caitlyn to visit for a sleep over, when Jill was going to be out of town. No, not to play you damn nasty minded conservatives, a WH anonymous source said that Biden was considering getting the procedure if it would help with not wearing his Depends any longer. But the WH Tailor said he'd still need to wear the Depends because he still 💩 in his pants.
    So looks like Joe and Caitlyn won't be playing jacks anytime soon.


    [Reply ]

      Re: First Lady's procedure was a success, YEA!!!
      Posted on: 2021-04-14 13:34:32   By: Anonymous
       
      Uhhh. Russian Troll Much?

      [Reply ]

        Re: First Lady's procedure was a success, YEA!!!
        Posted on: 2021-04-14 16:18:12   By: Anonymous
         
        President Biden is doing an amazing job . Thank you

        [Reply ]

          Re: First Lady's procedure was a success, YEA!!!
          Posted on: 2021-04-15 07:35:25   By: Anonymous
           


          You must be joking! President Biden is destroying this country every day he is in office! Do the right thing and Impeach Biden!!

          #IMPEACHBIDEN

          #RECALLNEWSOM


          [Reply ]

      Re: First Lady's procedure was a success, YEA!!!
      Posted on: 2021-04-14 21:11:30   By: Anonymous
       
      Is that all you've got? A smutty 3rd grade put down. You're beyond pathetic.

      [Reply ]


What's Related
These might interest you as well
Local News

Photo Albums

phpws Business Directory

Calendar


Mark Twain Medical Center
Meadowmont Pharmacy
Angels & San Andreas Memorial Chapels
Bear Valley Real Estate
Gerard Insurance
Bank of Stockton
Fox Security
Bistro Espresso
Chatom Winery
Middleton's Furniture
Bear Valley Mountain Resort
Cave, Mine & Zip Lines
High Country Spa & Stove
Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway
Sierra Logging Museum Calaveras Mentoriing
Jenny's Kitchen

Copyright © The Pine Tree 2005-2023