WATCH: 3 GOP lawmakers pledge memorials will stay open during a shutdown

If the government shuts down, a trio of GOP lawmakers pledge that monuments on the National Mall will stay open and without barricades — unlike the shutdown in 2013. 

Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Steve King (R-Iowa) and Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) recounted for The Hill their respective experiences during the shutdown several years ago, when they broke through barricades to make sure World War II veterans were able to visit a memorial dedicated to them. The National World War 2 Memorial had been closed off to the public during a government shutdown.

“I cut the tape and I grabbed the right one and [King] grabbed the left one and I had not noticed the bagpipe player followed Steve [King],” Gohmert recalled.

When the lawmakers broke into the memorial, trailed by throngs of veterans, the bagpipe player started playing and it was like “following the Pied Piper … it was beautiful,” he said.

Watch the video above to hear the lawmakers share their stories and pledge that a similar situation will not happen if the government shuts down again this weekend.