ALPINE, Texas — The U.S. Border Patrol held a remembrance ceremony to honor the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks on its 23rd anniversary.
The ceremony was held at the 9/11 memorial at the Alpine Border Patrol Station — the 1,300-pound piece of steel from the World Trade Center was the focus of the event.
Along with the public, members of the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, Office of Field Operations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Alpine Fire Department, Brewster County Sheriff’s Office, other law enforcement agencies gathered to pay their respects and tributes.
During the ceremony, participants took a moment of silence while American Flag was lowered to half-staff and a wreath was placed at the memorial.
Big Bend Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Marco A. Cervantes said through a news release, “the presence of this artifact at our station ties us directly to the broader narrative of national security.”
“It reminds us daily of the bravery and sacrifices made on 9/11 and strengthens our resolve to protect our nation with unwavering dedication,” he said.
The steel artifact is the only one of its kind in the Big Bend Sector, which arrived in the area in 2011. The agency — through their successful application to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the distribution of World Trade Center artifacts — resulted in the delivery of the 1,300-pound piece of steel to Alpine, where it now serves as a powerful symbol of national resilience and remembrance.
The piece of steel was brought to the Alpine Station through the dedicated efforts of former Border Patrol agents, local law enforcement officers, and the local community, who recognized the profound significance of securing a piece of history for the remote station.
