Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Roll Call remembers Gabe Zimmerman, the aide to Gabrielle Giffords who was killed in the massing shooting at Giffords' Congress on Your Corner event on Jan. 11, 2011:
Capitol Hill pays tribute to Zimmerman each time someone books HVC-215, the Capitol Visitor Center meeting room dedicated in his memory on April 16, 2013. It is a space where the people’s business is conducted, a room like countless others in the CVC. But looking over it is the presence of Giffords’ community outreach director, who was killed while performing his duties coordinating and overseeing the ill-fated Congress on Your Corner event nearly four years ago.Zimmerman’s community back home pays tribute every time someone hikes, rides a bike or walks a dog along this stretch of the Arizona Trail southeast of Tucson. It is the northernmost marker for the Las Cienegas passage, a 13-mile, easy to moderate hike along the 800-plus mile trail that spans the state from Mexico to Utah.
The monument at the trailhead, dedicated in January 2012, bears an inscription explaining whom it remembers.
Gabe (1980-2011) loved Tucson — its desert, its people and its unique spirit. A Tucson native, he hiked and mountain biked throughout the mountains and canyons that you see here. Gabe was a dedicated public servant who died serving the community he loved. He brought people together, encouraged us to respect one another and appreciated the place we call home. Gabe lived a life of exuberance. You should too. Enjoy this special area.