November 9, 2007

U.S. 'Flag of Honor' arrives in El Paso; ICE hosts through Nov. 16
Department of Homeland Security leaders, area law enforcement agency reps attend ceremony

EL PASO, Texas - Field Office Director Robert E. Jolicoeur, acting on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), received the U.S. "Flag of Honor" at the El Paso International Airport on Friday.

The Flag of Honor originally flew over the Texas State Capitol on Sept. 11, 2001. Shortly afterwards, Texas State Gov. Perry sent this Flag and the state flag by escort to New York City. Flags escorted by officers from around the nation linked up, establishing the longest police motorcade in the history of the United States. The Flag was officially presented to New York State Gov. George Pataki at New York Police Headquarters to commemorate the fallen officers and firefighters.

Jolicoeur was joined Friday by other U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agency heads as well as representatives from area law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Flag of Honor arrived in El Paso at 10 a.m. on a commercial flight from Dallas. Some of the other agencies represented included: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, CBP El Paso Field Office, the El Paso Police Department, the El Paso Fire Department, and the El Paso County Sheriff's Department.

As the flight arrived with the Flag on board, the El Paso Airport Fire Department gave the flight a water-cannon salute. The pilot of the flight presented the Flag to Jolicoeur, who handed it to members of the ICE Honor Guard. The Flag was then taken by motorcade to the El Paso Processing Center, where a flag-raising ceremony took place. The Andress High School band played the National Anthem, and the members of the Austin High School's Reserve Officer Training Corps attended.

El Paso's Detention and Removal Operations Office is the first Department of Homeland Security facility to host the Flag of Honor. The Flag will be flown through Nov. 16 at the El Paso Processing Center, 8915 Montana Ave., where it will be placed on a 24-hour watch, in honor of the men and women who courageously serve and defend our country, as well as those first-responders who protect our communities. The Flag represents all public servants around the nation and honors them as the heroes of Sept. 11.

"The victims and the heroes were our families, our friends and our co-workers. They came from every background, every color, every ethnicity, and every religion," said Jolicoeur. They came from everything good about America."

The guest speaker at today's ceremony was Christopher K. Heisler, U.S. Flag of Honor coordinator.

Other agencies represented at today's ceremony included: ICE's Federal Protective Service; Socorro Police Department; Horizon City Police Department; Anthony, Texas, Police Department; Horizon Fire Department; and Socorro Fire Department.

Also participating were the following: University of Texas at El Paso Police, El Paso Independent School District, and Ysleta Independent School District.

Members of the public interested in viewing the Flag may enter through the Mattox Gate at Mattox Street and Montana Avenue. Visitors must show a government-issued identification and proof of automobile insurance.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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