23rd Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony of 9/11 Held at Camino Real International Bridge
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
The United States Department of Homeland Security, including Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol, together with the City of Eagle Pass Police and Fire Departments commemorated the 23rd Anniversary of the 9/11/2001 tragedy with a solemn ceremony of remembrance on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at the Camino Real International Bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas.
A total of 2,977 people were killed and thousands more injured on September 11, 2001 when a group of terrorists hijacked four airplanes and crashed them into three buildings in the United States as part of a conspiracy to inflict death and chaos upon América, including two airplanes that flew into the two World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D. C., and a fourth plane destined for the White House that was commandeered by American passengers and forced to crash in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The victims were from over 90 countries and the United States declared a war on Global Terrorism, altering the foreign policy of the United States. Congress has declared 9/11/2001 as both “Patriot Day” and a “National Day of Service and Remembrance.” Communities across the United States hold events on 9/11 to commemorate the victims and those injured people of the tragedy. The purpose is to honor and remember those innocent victims and their families and maintaining vigilance against global terrorism in the United States and abroad.
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas has held a 9/11 commemorative anniversary ceremony annually at the Port of Eagle Pass’ Camino Real International Bridge jointly with the United States Department of Homeland Security and its affiliate federal agencies of Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol.
The Eagle Pass 9/11 Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony started at 7:15 a.m. and continued for 30 minutes to remember and honor the 2,977 victims and their families.
The Eagle Pass ceremony featured an invocation, keynote speeches by Port of Eagle Pass Deputy Director Pete Macias and Eagle Pass Police Chief Federico Garza, presentation of colors by the joint Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol Color Guard, a flyover by a U. S. Customs and Border Protection service helicopter, a moment of silence for the victims and their families, and a large American flag posted by the Eagle Pass Fire Department.
Assistant Port of Eagle Pass Director Pete Macias stated “Today, September 11, 2024, we gather in the land of the free and the home of the brave on a day that for Americans is so significant in history as we CBP Officers must never forget it. This 9/11 day gave birth to CBP and the uniform we wear today. We gather today to honor, respect, and above all remember the lives that were lost on that fateful and terrible day, September 11, 2001.”
Macias added that “Generations of law enforcement officers new and legacy must continue our posts to guard America….We are here today to honor those that came before. But more than that we are here to to assure that our great nation and its people never go gentle into that good night. Our great nation is composed of all colors, creeds, and all personalities, garnering its strength and its resolve to form the greatest country in the world. The men and women of our armed forces….and our fellow law enforcement agencies stand in unison to keep our country as the land of the free and home of the brave. We shall never forget 9/11 and its victims.”
The Camino Real International Bridge was temporarily closed during the brief ceremony and was quickly reopened following the ceremony.
Among local dignitaries attending the 9/11 ceremony were Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr., City Manager Homero Balderas, Eagle Pass International Bridge System General Manager Ronnie Rivera, Assistant Port of Eagle Pass Director Pete Macias, Eagle Pass Police Chief Federico Garza, Eagle Pass Assistant Police Chief Alejandro Guedea, Eagle Pass Police Captain Amy Gonzalez, Eagle Pass Police Captain Gerardo Fuentes, Eagle Pass Fire Chief Manuel Mello, Eagle Pass Deputy Fire Chief Rodolfo Cardona, Eagle Pass Emergency Management Services Director Jesus Rodriguez, U. S. Border Patrol representatives, Texas Department of Public Safety Sargent Steve Luna and representatives, Warden Kenneth Reagans of The Geo Group-Eagle Pass Detention Facility, and many others.
