President Joe Biden is honoring William “Billy” Evans, a police officer who died earlier this month after being struck by a vehicle while standing at a barricade outside the U.S. Capitol.
During a ceremony to honor Evans, Biden spoke directly to Evans’ family, “Your son, your husband, your brother, your dad was a hero and he’s part of you. It’s in your blood.”
He continued, “My prayer for you is that moment of a smile comes before the tear, quicker, then longer.”
Watch his comments below:
“My prayer for you is the moment of the smile comes before the tear — quicker and longer.”
— Bloomberg Originals (@bbgoriginals) April 13, 2021
Biden eulogizes U.S. Capitol Police Officer William “Billy” Evans, whose casket was placed in the Capitol Rotunda to lie in honor pic.twitter.com/WcFO3MTFmW
The president also shared a moment with Evans’ daughter as he picked up a toy she dropped and handed it back to her.
https://twitter.com/kathrynw5/status/1381993383170805761
While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was delivering remarks she recognized Biden picked up the toy.
“A greater compliment does no one have than the president of the United States looking after your toys,” Pelosi said.
Here's the short clip of Joe Biden picking up the Capitol Dome toy that Officer Billy Evans' daughter Abigail dropped. pic.twitter.com/FnIhWUn1e5
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) April 13, 2021
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also had a message for Evans’ family.
“His mother Janice, who I was able to speak with last week, to Shannon, my heart breaks for you. It does. To Billy’s beloved children, Logan, Abigail, I want you to know that we are forever indebted to your dad. We will remember his sacrifice and your sacrifice forever,” Schumer said.
He added, “And to Billy’s friends on the Capitol Police force, these past few months have been devastating. Just as the scars of Jan. 6 have begun to heal, another wound had opened.”
Watch his remarks below:
"To Billy's beloved children…I want you to know that we are forever indebted to your dad. We will remember his sacrifice and your sacrifice forever," Sen. Majority Leader Schumer says, as fallen Capitol Police officer William "Billy" Evans lies in honor. https://t.co/LoNB8DVJRc pic.twitter.com/NCi4Q4Bkm2
— ABC News (@ABC) April 13, 2021
In February, Brian Sicknick, another Capitol police officer, was granted the distinction of lying in honor in the Capitol Rotunda.
He died from injuries he sustained during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.