Reid: Senate to hold moment of silence to mourn Fort Hood losses

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) opened Monday afternoon's session of the Senate with a statement mourning the shootings at Fort Hood and announcing that the chamber would hold a moment of silence Tuesday in honor of the victims.

Said Reid on the floor:

"Our nation mourns every death of an American service member. We grieve alongside the families who sacrifice so much while their loved ones serve, and hurt even more when loved ones give the ultimate sacrifice. I will never forget a single one of the mothers and fathers I meet or call when a Nevadan doesn’t come home.

We are especially heartbroken by last week’s tragedy in the heart of Texas. The entire United States Senate sends its deepest condolences to those who have lost mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives at Fort Hood. Our thoughts are with the troops who have lost their friends and fellow soldiers, and with those who continue to heal.

These men and women died in the Soldier Readiness Processing Center. That is supposed to be the last place our troops go before they are deployed; no one ever suspects it will be the last place they would ever go.

As we mourn, we honor the lives of those who died on their base. We hope for the full and speedy recoveries of those who are injured. And we are thankful for the men and women who stopped the gunman, came to the aid of the wounded, and exhibited the kind of heroism that makes our Armed Forces the best in the world."