WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords got up from her chair unassisted and pinned a military medal on her husband's jacket Thursday during a ceremony for his military retirement.
She traveled to the nation's capital for the ceremony to support her husband, now-retired U.S. Navy Capt. and astronaut Mark Kelly. At the request of Giffords and Kelly, Vice President Joe Biden oversaw the event.
"As vice president I get to work with an awful lot of people who devote their lives day to day to public service," Biden said. "But it's not every day you encounter examples of sheer, sheer courage, selflessness and dedication, like you see in this couple."
The trip marked the sixth time Giffords has traveled outside Houston since she moved there in late January to rehabilitate following an assassination attempt Jan. 8. Giffords was shot through the left side of her brain.
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Giffords smiled as she entered the room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building along with her mother, Gloria Giffords, and Kelly's family.
She walked with a slight limp and wore a brace on her right hand. Throughout the ceremony she was cheerful, blowing air kisses and waving to guests as they were introduced.
The Tucson congresswoman made eye contact with each person who was introduced and waved vigorously when her mother and Kelly's mother, Patricia Kelly, were introduced.
Giffords did not go to her Capitol Hill office or do any congressional business during the trip. She arrived Wednesday and flew back to Houston immediately after Thursday's ceremony.
Guests at the event included NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden, Undersecretary of the Army Joseph William Westphal and Vice Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mark E. Ferguson.
Bolden said most U.S. Navy retirements are not presided over by the vice president. "Mark's been an incredible leader for us in the astronaut office. We're sorry to see him go."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sat in the front row. Others attending included House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Adam Smith, Erik Paulsen and Pete Olson, as well as retired U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton.
There was prolonged applause as Kelly, 47, came in with his family, including his daughters, Claudia and Claire.
Giffords entered the room with her chief of staff, Pia Carusone, and sat next to her in the front row.
Giffords stood up on her own for both the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation, which was delivered by the Rev. Patrick Conroy, the House chaplain.
One of Kelly's daughters helped award her father the Legion of Merit upon his military retirement, and Biden helped pin it on his jacket - twice, because it came loose the first time.
Giffords presented her husband with the Distinguished Flying Cross, which he earned for commanding the fourth and final flight on the space shuttle Endeavour in May. She pinned it on his jacket with her left hand. Biden commented that she did a better job with the pinning than he did.
Biden noted that service is a Kelly family tradition: Both of Kelly's parents were police officers and his identical-twin brother, Scott, is also an astronaut.
Kelly flew 39 combat missions on two deployments during Operation Desert Storm from the USS Midway. The Navy lent him to the NASA astronaut corps beginning in 1996.
Biden said Kelly did his job with "humility and humor." On one shuttle mission that included the task of repairing a faulty toilet at the International Space Station, Kelly "floated through the air lock and said, 'I understand you are looking for a plumber.' And one hell of a plumber you were."
Biden also spoke directly to Giffords, saying she is an inspiration to thousands of people who suffer from traumatic brain injuries.
"I don't use the word loosely. You are an inspiration. You've been inspirational, people looking, saying, 'I can make it, I do this,' " the vice president said.
Kelly was the final speaker, saying there is no greater friend and no worse foe in the world than the U.S. Navy.
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to fly in space not just once but four times," he said. "NASA is the example of scientific research, development and success, and must remain a permanent part of the fabric of this great country."
Kelly gave flowers to his daughters, and to Giffords a bouquet of pink tulips.
"Gabby, you remind me every day to deny the acceptance of failure," Kelly said. "I look forward to the next phase of our life together and watching all of your future achievements."
Contact reporter Stephanie Innes at sinnes@azstarnet.com or at 573-4134.
