U.S. CBP Valor Memorial Honors Niagara Falls Officer killed in the Line of Duty

Buffalo, New York - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Friday held a Valor Memorial Ceremony honoring the agency's officers and agents who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty including CBP Officer John R. Zykas who had ties to the community of Niagara Falls, N.Y. The ceremony was held at CBP headquarters as part of National Police Week. 

The CBP Valor Memorial honors those CBP uniformed officers who are killed in the line of duty or who pass away as a direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty. These individuals are united in death, as in life, by their sworn oath to defend the Constitution of the U.S. and to protect the nation against all enemies.

“Today – as always – we honor the courage and selfless sacrifice of the individuals whose names are etched on this valor memorial,” said CBP Commissioner Alan D. Bersin. “May their legacy of distinguished service to our Nation be forever remembered and continue to inspire all of us charged with protecting our homeland.”

During today's ceremony, the agency added the name of John R. Zykas to the Valor Memorial at CBP headquarters in Washington, D.C. Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, the CBP Valor Memorial will display the names of 217 officers and agents.

On September 2, 2010, CBP Officer Zykas suffered a major heart attack during a training course at the Otay Mesa port of entry. After undergoing intensive surgery, Officer Zykas was removed from life support and passed away on September 8, 2010. Officer John Zykas served the United States close to 35 years. He joined the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service as an immigration inspector at the Port of San Ysidro in 1996 and transferred to the Port of San Diego in 2004, after serving in the U.S. Navy for 20 years. Officer Zykas is survived by his wife and his two sons. He also leaves behind his parents, his sister, and two grandchildren.

Every day, without fanfare or special praise, CBP officers, Border Patrol agents, Marine Interdiction agents and agriculture specialists serve and protect our Nation. These brave law-enforcement officers exemplify CBP’s core values of vigilance, service to country and integrity -- the very best of America.

The stories of the sacrifices made by these officers, agents and others in CBP’s history are located in the “In Memoriam” site.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.