WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) expressed her sympathies and support for the servicemembers and their families affected by the shootings at Ft. Hood which killed 11 and wounded 32.

“An incident like this is so sad because you know how proud every one of those individuals was to serve our country in some way.  These are people who put their personal lives second, and chose a path of service to our nation.  Many of them have been deployed four times in the last ten years.  It’s a hard life, and to have something like this happen to them at their home on base is senseless and maddening,” Emerson said. “My heart really goes out to all of the victims and their families, as well as the rest of the servicemembers on base – they are an extended family and this violence has hit all of them very hard.”

The U.S. House of Representatives held a moment of silence yesterday evening following reports of the tragedy.