U.S. REP. RON BARBER TO PRESENT CONGRESSIONAL BADGE OF BRAVERY TO BRIAN TERRY’S FAMILY
Sep 14, 2012
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber will present the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery to the family of slain U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry on Monday.
The presentation will come at one of two Southern Arizona events next week in which Barber will honor the service and memory of the law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty in December 2010.
“The murder of Agent Terry is a continuing reminder that we cannot back off from our commitment to secure the border,” Barber said today. “The sacrifices he made and his service to this nation will never be forgotten.”
On Monday evening, Barber will co-chair and speak at a dinner in Tucson to benefit the Brian A. Terry Foundation, established earlier this year to honor Terry and create a living legacy in his name. The foundation plans to provide emotional and financial assistance to family members of Border Patrol agents killed and injured in the line of duty.
At the dinner, Barber will present the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery to members of Terry’s family. Terry and three other agents who were involved in the December 2010 ambush in which Terry died have been honored with the badge.
Congress established the badge in 2008 to honor law enforcement officers who have exhibited exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind and unusual swiftness of action, regardless of their own personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life.
In addition to Terry, the badge was awarded to fellow Border Patrol agents William Castano, Gabriel Fragoza and Timothy Keller.
The citation for the award reads, in part:
“During the short and horrific gun battle, Agent Brian Terry sustained a fatal injury. Realizing that Agent Terry had been injured, the team, without hesitation, continued to selflessly place themselves in harm’s way by attempting to provide life saving techniques for Agent Terry and providing perimeter security preventing the assailants from maneuvering on their position.”
Numerous other members of Congress as well as several Arizona elected officials are expected to attend the Monday dinner.
On Tuesday, Barber will travel to Naco, a Bisbee-area border town in Southern Arizona. There, the Border Patrol station where Terry was based will be named in his honor.
The office of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, in which Barber was district director, worked with members of Congress last year to introduce and pass legislation to dedicate the station to Terry.
Terry was shot and killed Dec. 14, 2010 while on patrol 14 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border near Rio Rico, north of Nogales. Terry was part of an elite four-man BORTAC team that was attacked by suspected border bandits who were planning to rob people who had entered the country illegally.
Before joining the Border Patrol, Terry was a United States Marine and a police officer in his home state of Michigan.
WHAT: U.S. Ron Barber speaks at and co-chairs Brian A. Terry Foundation dinner, where he will present the Terry family with the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery
WHEN: 6 – 8:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 17, 2012
WHERE: J.W. Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., Tucson
Media wishing to attend should email Mike Scerbo at mscerbo@rosemoserallynpr.com or call (480) 423-1414 or (602) 615-6523
WHAT: U.S. Ron Barber attends dedication of Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station
WHEN: 10:30 – 11:15 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012
WHERE: 2136 S. Naco Highway, Bisbee
Media wishing to attend should contact the Border Patrol at (520) 748-3210
NEWS RELEASE
Friday, Sept. 14, 2012
CONTACT
Mark Kimble
Communications Director
U.S. Rep. Ron Barber
Arizona’s 8th Congressional District
(520) 881-3588 or (520) 904-5876
