7-Year-Old Daughter of Slain Capitol Officer Wipes Away Mother's Tears at Emotional Memorial

The pain of losing someone you love is indescribable. When that person is your partner, someone you had by your side to raise your children with, the grief can be overwhelming. And even more so when you lose your parent at such a young age? That's the heartbreaking story of seven-year-old Abigail Evans and her elder brother Logan, 9. The young children have to deal with growing up without their dad, police officer William "Billy" Evans who died in an attack on Capitol Hill. Evans was killed after a man rammed a car into him and another police officer during an attack at Capitol Hill, on April 2, reports NBC News. The memorial was an emotional one. At one point the little girl was seen kissing her mother, Shannon Terranova's cheek, and wiping away tears from her mother's face.

After his flag-draped casket was brought in to lie in honor, POTUS Joe Biden spoke to the family during the memorial service in the Capitol's Rotunda. "Your son, your husband, your brother, your dad was a hero," Biden told Evans' family, including his two young kids, who were holding onto stuffed animals. Biden told the family their father's spirit was living in on in the children."You are going to make it by holding each other together. By holding Logan and Abigail as tightly as you can. As long as you have them, you have Billy," Biden said. Evans will be buried in Bellevue Cemetery in Adams, Massachusetts, with his father and his mother’s parents, a representative for the family told the news outlet.

At the memorial, those who knew the late officer spoke of him fondly. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer remembered the late officer as "a prankster." "He capitalized on every opportunity for a joke," Schumer said, including ribbing lost tourists who'd stop him to ask for directions. They'd ask him if they could ask him a question, and he'd reply, 'you already did.' He would follow the crack by asking them, 'How can I help?'" "Those four simple words," Schumer said, summed up "his life's mission."

According to The Washington Post, Evans has been described as a dedicated officer, a Star Wars fanatic, and most importantly a doting dad and husband. The 41-year-old was an 18-year veteran of the Capitol Police. "His most cherished moments were those spent with them — building with Lego, having lightsaber duels, playing board games, doing arts and crafts, and recently finishing the Harry Potter series," the family said in a statement on April 6. "He was always so eager to show how proud he was of everything they did. Any opportunity to spend time with his children brightened both their lives and his. Their dad was their hero long before the tragic events of last week."

Evans is the second Capitol Police officer to receive the rare honor this year, following Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. Sicknick died from injuries sustained during the attack and was given the distinction in February. Only a handful of people have been laid in honor at the Rotunda after being killed in the line of duty.  It's been a difficult time for the U.S. Capitol police officers as the department is still reeling from the horrifying events that took place on January 6, 2021. Perhaps even more so for the families who have to heal and continue to move forward without their loved ones.

References:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/biden-congress-pay-tribute-slain-capitol-police-officer-n1263896

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/04/13/billy-evans-children/

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Tom Williams-Pool