CBP Honors Its Fallen Heroes

Valor Memorial Ceremony held during National Police Week
(Friday, May 13, 2011)

Washington — U.S. Customs and Border Protection today held a Valor Memorial Ceremony honoring the agency’s officers and agents who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The ceremony was held at CBP headquarters as part of National Police Week.

	click for hi-res Officials of the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection add seven names to the CBP Valor Memorial. Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte

The CBP Valor Memorial honors those CBP uniformed officers who are killed in the line of duty or who pass away as a direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty. These individuals are united in death, as in life, by their sworn oath to defend the Constitution of the U.S. and to protect the nation against all enemies.

“Today – as always – we honor the courage and selfless sacrifice of the individuals whose names are etched on this valor memorial,” said CBP Commissioner Alan D. Bersin. “May their legacy of distinguished service to our nation be forever remembered and continue to inspire all of us charged with protecting our homeland.”

During today’s ceremony, the agency added the names of Nathaniel A. Afolayan, Trena R. McLaughlin, Mark F. Van Duren, Charles F. Collins II, Michael V. Gallagher, John R. Zykas and Bryan A. Terry to the Valor Memorial at CBP headquarters in Washington, D.C. Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, the CBP Valor Memorial will display the names of 217 officers and agents.

Every day, CBP officers, Border Patrol agents, air and marine interdiction agents and agriculture specialists serve and protect the United States. These brave law enforcement officers exemplify CBP’s core values of vigilance, service to country and integrity. ( In Memoriam )

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.