A Reflection on the Clinton J. Hill Memorial Service April 8, 2025

Beneath the soaring arches of the Washington National Cathedral, we said goodbye to a legend. Clint Hill was more than a witness to history—he shaped it. Sixty years ago, in Dallas, when an assassin’s bullets shattered the calm, it was Hill who ran toward danger. With only instinct and duty as his armor, he leapt onto the limousine to shield President and Mrs. Kennedy. He couldn’t save the President—but his courage became the gold standard of service.

We gathered not just to honor a man, but a moment—a legacy of sacrifice that echoes through generations. Among those paying tribute were hundreds of former and current U.S. Secret Service agents and officers, some who stood post beside Hill, others who followed in the path he carved with blood, grit, and selflessness.

There was something deeply symbolic about the timing. Just nine months ago, in Butler, Pennsylvania, the current Director of the Secret Service, Sean Curran, ran into gunfire to shield President Trump—an echo of Hill’s leap in 1963. Different cities. Different protectees. Same DNA.

Clint Hill’s codename was “Dazzle.” How fitting—he lit the way for all of us who followed. And he did so with humility, humor, and humanity. His signature cocktail, “The Clint,” was strong, simple, and unforgettable—just like the man himself. The job has always demanded more than most can give. It still does. But because Clint Hill ran toward danger that day, we’ve never doubted our purpose.

We are the stewards of continuity. We don’t just protect people—we protect the peaceful transfer of power, the dignity of democracy, and the idea that some things are still worth running toward.

— Written by ASAIC Paul Eckloff (ret.) 1998-2020