Crowd tears up as Giffords leads pledge

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona drew tears and cheers from Democratic National Convention delegates Thursday as she led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Accompanied by her friend, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Giffords walked without a cane to center stage at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C., to lead the crowd in the recitation of the pledge.

People cried as she spoke the words, and cheers of "Gabby," "Gabby," erupted as the pledge was finished.

As she left the stage, Giffords waved and blew kisses to the crowd.

Six people died and Giffords was one of 13 people wounded in an assassination attempt Jan. 8, 2011, during her "Congress On Your Corner" event in front of a Tucson grocery store. She resigned this year so she could concentrate on her rehabilitation.