Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Alpine, Texas, Border Patrol Agents Bring Home 9/11 Artifact for Memorial Installation

Marfa, Texas – Two Alpine Station Border Patrol agents drove to New York City and back last week to pick up a twisted steel beam to be used as part of a memorial commemorating the attacks of 9/11.

Two Border Patrol agents from the Alpine, Texas, Station drove to New York City to bring this twisted metal beam to West Texas. The beam is from the wreckage of the twin towers felled on September 11, 2001. The artifact was escorted into the Alpine Station by the Marfa Sector Honor Guard. The beam will be included in a memorial to be unveiled at the station on September 11, 2011. The groundbreaking ceremony for the station was held on September 11, 2001.

The beam was part of one of the destroyed buildings and was being held by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

In late 2010 Assistant Patrol Agent in Charge (APAIC) Lewis Reynolds saw a news story about the availability of artifacts to community groups providing their application was approved by the port authority. He, along with others from the Alpine, Texas Station, received permission and then filled out the application. After their application was approved they received a scheduled pickup date.

APAIC Reynolds and Supervisory Border Patrol Agent David Marshall drove a stake bed truck to New York City to pick up the remnant. They arrived back in Alpine August 6 and were escorted through the community by a solemn procession of law enforcement vehicles. The round trip covered 4,334 miles.

“The display of this symbol at the Alpine Station will forever be significant,” said Marfa Sector Chief Patrol Agent John J. Smietana, Jr. “In spite of the terror of the moment, a great number of law enforcement officers, fire fighters and others continued to do their jobs with the ‘last full measure of devotion.’ This simple metal beam will be displayed as a reminder of their courage and sacrifice.”

The beam will be installed as part of a memorial display on the front lawn of the Alpine Border Patrol Station on Highway 90 west of Alpine. The memorial will be accessible by the public during the daytime once it has been installed.

Plans are underway for a dedication ceremony to be held on September 11, 2011, at the station.

Ironically, the groundbreaking ceremony for the current station was held on the morning of September 11, 2001.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It's a shame the families of the border agents can't get victim rights while the democrats are making deals with the sinoloa cartel to allow cocaine in this country in exchange for allowing guns to enter mexico. The real terrorists are the extreme left and their henchmen the extreme right. How many thousands of people have been killed by these government terrorists using the atf fbi cia and the dea to spread death?! The tea party is getting a surprisingly fresh and new support from both african americans and hispanics this year. The media is trying to keep a lid on the 63% of voters expected to vote for Rand Paul this year because romney is one of them. Rand Paul will put a stop to these terrorists hiding behind government.