Today the U.S. House of Representatives held a moment of silence to remember the students killed and injured on October 24 in the shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, led the moment of silence and delivered the following remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute.

On October 24, the Marysville, Washington and Tulalip communities were violently ripped apart by a tragic shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.

Four students and their assailant have died, and one student was seriously wounded. As a father of two teenage boys, my heart breaks as I consider the families who were given the worst news imaginable as a result of this horrible event.

Healing is a difficult process, especially as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday.

Marysville, Tulalip and the surrounding communities have shown their strength and resilience by celebrating these young people and giving thanks for their lives, though they were cut terribly short – the lives of Zoe Galasso, Gia Soriano, Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, Andrew Fryberg, and the shooter, Jaylen Fryberg. Our thoughts are also with Nate Hatch and his family as he continues to recover.

I would like to thank our first responders and the Marysville-Pilchuck High School staff and leadership for their quick action that sad day.

I want to thank the Tulalip’s leadership for their resiliency, and the faith communities for opening their buildings and their arms to the grieving population.

Everyone involved deserves our thanks and our prayers.

To our first responders, you put yourselves at risk to keep our children safe.

I know I speak for our whole community when I thank you for your service and bravery.

I also want to commend the strength of our community leaders during this incredibly difficult time.

My colleagues and I continue to send thoughts and prayers to the students, teachers, families and Marysville and Tulalip communities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House observe a moment of silence as we remember these young people whose lives ended far too soon.

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