please join me in congratulation garney gary of c-span.plause] as garneylockstep -- walks up, want to say that jeri thompson's widow sent us a message that she wanted us to read. she had the honor of working career.ney early in her she said that he was a great pleasure to work with come a great teacher and coworker. they had the opportunity to work on many shoes together. he was always kind and help. -- shoots together. he was always kind and helpful. she can remember his wonderful laugh and smile. she is happy that he is receiving this award in honor of her husband, jerry thompson. [applause] >> you've got to understand garney is a character. the best way to talk about garney gary is to say how much it has been fun and exciting to know him for 36 years and to work with him everyday. [laughter] >> what? what? on camera, video, and lighting. he has covered six presidents. he must have covered at least a thousand congressional hearings. he has done it all. it is great he is getting this award. >> my experience with him a special. it was back

the best way to talk about garney gary is to say how much it has been fun and exciting to know him foryears and to work with him everyday. [laughter] >> what? what? >> garney is on camera, video, and lighting. he has covered six presidents. he must have covered at least a thousand congressional hearings. he has done it all. it is great he is getting this award. >> my experience with him a special. it was back to the mid-1990's when garney was working on the c-span bus. his gifts, in terms of being an ambassador for c-span, really sets him apart in many ways. when garney talks to someone, he goes right up to them and puts his hand on their shoulder and looks them in the eye and he put someone at ease and gives him a great smile. it's a great way for people to learn who we are at c-span because there is nobody better than garney to talk about what we do. >> recently, we lost one of our nicest people who ever worked at c-span. i watched garney during that process. he made a habit of going out to lynwood's house, checking in to see if he could be of any help to him. i think that exemplifie

the capitol hill team received the award for excellence in journalism and garney gary received the jerry thompson memorial award. we will hear from jeff flake. this runs one hour, 20 minutes. >> ♪ o say can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, o'er the ramparts we watched,