July 27 (UPI) — President Donald Trump on Thursday presented the Medal of Valor to five first responders for their actions in a shooting at a baseball practice for Republican members of Congress.
The president thanked the five officers for their “courageous actions” when gunshots rang out at the baseball field in Alexandria, Va., on June 14. Capitol Police officers David Bailey and Crystal Griner, and Alexandria Police officers Nicole Battaglia, Kevin Jobe and Alex Jensen were honored at Thursday’s event.
“These officers saved the lives of every innocent person on the field that day — many of them friends of [Vice President] Mike [Pence] and myself,” Trump said. “They are American heroes and we salute them.”
The shooting severely injured House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., food lobbyist Matt Mika and congressional aide Zack Barth.
Griner also sustained a gunshot wound in the ankle and Bailey had a minor injury not caused by gunfire. Bailey threw out the first pitch at the annual congressional baseball game held the next day.
MedStar Washington Hospital Center released Scalise on Tuesday after multiple surgeries and time spent in the intensive care unit. He will now begin a period of intensive inpatient rehabilitation.
Members of Congress and staffers at the baseball practice said they felt lucky Capitol Police officers were on hand at the baseball field at the time of the shooting. Only members of Congress who hold leadership positions, like Scalise, travel with security.
Trump also offered his thanks to the medical teams at MedStar and George Washington University hospitals for treating the injured.
“We also salute the members of Congress who acted with such bravery in the face of danger, shielding each other and caring for the injured. We honor today the emergency dispatchers who directed the first responders to the scene within seconds,” he added.
“I especially want to recognize all of the personnel from the Alexandria Fire Department and the U.S. Park Police Aviation Unit for providing life support in a crisis where every second mattered. Thank you for what you did that day and for what you do every single day.”
In attendance at the ceremony were members of Scalise’s medical team and his wife, Jennifer Scalise.