Gabby Giffords Leads Pledge of Allegiance at DNC Convention

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) appeared at the Democratic national convention yesterday and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.  For anyone who missed this stirring moment, here is a link to the C-SPAN video.  Giffords is assisted in walking across the stage by her close friend Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Giffords was shot in the head during an assassination attempt on January 8, 2011 and is still recovering.   She had been the chair of the Space and Aeronautics subcommittee of the House Science and Technology Committee in the 111th Congress and an ardent NASA supporter.   She is married to former astronaut Mark Kelly. 

Her recovery has been described as miraculous considering the extent of her wounds.  The assassination attempt took six other lives and wounded 13.   The assailant, Jared Lee Loughner, now 23, pleaded guilty last month in a plea arrangement where he will sentenced to life in prison without parole, but is spared the death penalty.  Sentencing is set for November 15.