On Sept. 1, 2010 a suicide bomber/gunman stormed into the Silver Spring headquarters of Discovery Communications and took hostages. Officer Edward Paden Jr. was faced with a decision. Fight or flight.

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On Monday, several members of Congress honored the off-duty Montgomery County Police officer who risked his life to save others.

Paden was off the clock and in plain clothes when gunman James Lee entered the building and put 1,000 lives in jeopardy.

WATCH home video of James Lee debating population control, environment.

"(The) alert tone went off on the radio and I heard the call go out," Paden said. "I just jumped in the car and said 'let's go'."

Within minutes, Paden was just feet away from gunman James Lee and was able to give SWAT teams the information they needed to catch Lee.

That bravery earned him the Congressional Badge of Bravery.

"I'm deeply honored to say the least," Paden said.

One of the men who was held hostage, Thomas Fisher, says that Paden truly is a hero.

WATCH Discovery Channel hostages tell their story to Oprah.

"Without any concern for his personal safety, he did what was right to prevent the loss of life," Fisher said. "I'm proud to see that he's being recognized for what he did that day.