Fallen Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick will lie in honor at US Capitol
Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick died from injuries after pro-Trump riot
“His sacrifice reminds us every day of our obligation to our country and to the people we serve,” the joint statement continues.
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The tradition of using the Capitol Rotunda to pay tribute to distinguished Americans began in 1852, but historically that honor has been given to military officers and elected officials who have “lain in state.” More recently, Congress has allowed pre-eminent citizens to “lie in honor.”
Only a few other private citizens have lain in honor, according to a House history of the tradition, including two other Capitol Police officers who died in the line of duty in 1998: Officer Jacob J. Chestnut, Jr., and Detective John M. Gibson.
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Before working as a Capitol Police officer, Sicknick served six years in the New Jersey Air National Guard, where he was deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan.
“On behalf of the House of Representatives and the Senate, it is our great privilege to pay tribute to Officer Sicknick with this lying-in-honor ceremony,” continued Pelosi and Schumer. “May this ceremony and the knowledge that so many mourn with and pray for them be a comfort to Officer Sicknick’s family during this sad time.”
The Capitol was violently breached three weeks ago by an angry mob that aimed to stop the counting of Electoral College votes for President Joe Biden.
Contributing: Grace Hauck, Nicholas Wu