Port of Eagle Pass Customs and Border Protection Celebrates 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2025
The Port of Eagle Pass, Texas under the helm of the United States Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection (CBP) celebrated the 24th Anniversary of the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Thursday, September 11, 2025 at the City of Eagle Pass Camino Real International Bridge to honor and pay respect to the almost 3,000 American people who tragically lost their lives in the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 and to raise awareness not to forget these people and to remain vigilant of our homeland at all times against foreign and domestic terrorists, said Pete Macias, Assistant Port Director of Eagle Pass, U. S. Customs and Border Protection.
The Camino Real International Bridge traffics was temporarily closed at 7:20 a.m on September 11th to hold the solemn 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry.
CBP Assistant Port Director Pete Macias was the Master of Ceremony. The Joint CBP and Border Patrol Color Guard presented the colors at the ceremony. CBP Chaplain Rick Hernandez presented the Invocation at the start of the ceremony. The Eagle Pass Fire Department presented their giant American flag at the ceremony. The CBP Flag Guard Corps retired the old American flag from the Port of Eagle Pass Flagpole after finishing its watch and raised a new American Flag in honor of the 9/11 victims and to stand watch over America. The National Anthem was sung by CBP Assistant Port Director Pete Macias. A moment of silence was given in honor of the fallen victims of 9/11/2001. A CBP Bugler Jose Regalado played “Taps” in memory of the 9/11 victims. A CBP Helicopter performed a fly over the ceremony to remember the fallen.
Pete Macias presented the keynote address, stating “We gather today to honor, respect, and above all remember the lives that were lost on that fateful day and terrible day, September 11, 2001….All Americans were affected by this tragedy in one way or another, and those effects resonate in the law enforcement community like something vivid whose effects still surface today….Generations of law enforcement officers, both legacy and new, must continue our posts to guard America just like our faithful flag that continuosly watches over us in our triumph as well as through strife. We are here today to honor those that came before. But more than that we are here today to assure that our great nation and its people never go gentle into that good night. Our great nation is composed of all colors, all creeds, and all personalities and garners its strength and its resolve to form the greatest country in the world through these attributes. This indomitable spirt made this country great, this undeniable spirit that made us number one, is what will always keep us number one. The men and women of our armed forces that carry us with them in foreign and state side. Our fellow law enforcement agencies that stand in unison. We are the land of the free and home of the brave.”
Eagle Pass Fire Department Chief Manuel Mello stated that all first responders must never forget 9/11 and stand vigilant in defense of our homeland to prevent another such tragedy from occurring. Chief Mello noted that America’s resilience prevailed against 9/11 and asked to honor and remember both the civilians who lost their lives and the first responders who lost their lives while responding to the horrific terrorist attack.
Eagle Pass Mayor Aaron Valdez welcomed all first responders and guests to the solemn 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony and asked to honor and remember the lives lost on 9/11 as well as honor the heroes who responded to the tragedy and saved many lives. Valdez noted that Americans not forget the victims and heroes of 9/11.
CBP Chaplain Rick Hernandez presented the benediction and the Joint CBP and Border Patrol Color Guard retired the colors to end the solemn 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony.
Assistant CBP Port Director Pete Macias sang a beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
Among those attending the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony were Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber, Eagle Pass Police Chief Amy Gonzalez, Texas Department of Public Safety Officer Steve Luna, Eagle Pass Mayor Aaron Valdez, Eagle Pass Fire Chief Manuel Mello, Eagle Pass Assistant Fire Chief Rodolfo Cardona, Eagle Pass Border Patrol North Station Supervisor George Cavazos, Eagle Pass Police Captain Gerardo Fuentes, Eagle Pass CBP Explorers, Texas National Guard members, CBP Officers, Border Patrol Officers, Eagle Pass Police Department Officers, Eagle Pass Fire Department Firefighters, and other first responders and law enforcement officers.
