One Year after the Attack, Giffords Recites Pledge of Allegiance

On January 8^th, Gabrielle Giffords, the first Jewish woman elected to Congress from the state of Arizona, led a crowd in an emotional and inspirational Pledge of Allegiance during a ceremony at the University of Arizona, marking the one-year anniversary of the attack that saw Gifford shot in the head, and left six people dead and dozens more injured.

Giffords, incredibly, has spent the past year successfully recovering from her wounds to re-learn how to speak and walk again following the shooting by alleged gunman Jared Lee Loughner at a political event.

The one-year commemoration event included an interfaith ceremony at a church and a shofar-blowing by a rabbi and a commemoration service held at the University of Arizona while many participants wept openly as two 10-year-olds spoke fondly about their best friend, Christina-Taylor Green, who was killed in the attack.

Responding to chants of "Gabby! Gabby!, Giffords limped to the podium, where she recited the pledge passionately.

The day-long ceremony also included a citywide bell-ringing at 10:11 a.m., the time the gunman began his shooting spree outside a Safeway.

Loughner, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, has pleaded not guilty to 49 charges.