Former Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, center, was escorted by Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida after she resigned from the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The New York Times – WASHINGTON — The House bade a tearful farewell to Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona on Wednesday as she submitted her resignation and was praised by members of both parties as an inspiring symbol of courage in the aftermath of an assassination attempt against her last year.

“We come to the floor today, colleagues of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, to salute her as the brightest star among us, the brightest star Congress has ever seen,” said the House Democratic leader, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California.

Ms. Giffords’ mother and husband looked on from the House gallery as Ms. Pelosi told the congresswoman: “You will be missed in the House of Representatives, but your legacy in this Congress and your leadership in our nation will certainly endure. So thank you for being who you are, for lifting our country at a very important and sad time.”

The sendoff for Ms. Giffords brought Democrats and Republicans together like no other event in the last year.

Speaker John A. Boehner wiped away tears when Ms. Giffords walked up to the dais with her friend, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democrat of Florida, to hand over an envelope with her letter of resignation.

Ms. Giffords, a moderate Democrat in her third term, was one of 19 people shotin January 2011 at a meet-and-greet political event outside a grocery store in Tucson, her hometown. Six people, including a 9-year-old girl and a federal district judge, were killed in the shooting.

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