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.

Director Attends Candlelight Vigil

National Police Week 2011

Honoring Those Who Serve

Thousands of people gathered in front of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor those who gave their lives in the line of duty.  The candlelight vigil included a reading of the 316 names being added to the memorial this year.

In a podcast, Special Agent Jeff Blanton of the FBI’s Office of Law Enforcement Coordination discusses National Police Week. " It is truly is a fraternity, it’s a brotherhood in law enforcement," Blanton says.

The FBI joins the nation in observing National Police Week from May 15-21. Events kick off in Washington, D.C. on May 13 with a candlelight vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. In the coming days, we will be updating this space with additional coverage of the events.

In a video message released May 12, Director Robert S. Mueller said, "On behalf of the men and women of the FBI, I want to personally recognize and thank each of you individually, and all of your departments collectively, as we work together to keep our neighborhoods safe."

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as Police Week. Today, law enforcement officers from around the world attend events in Washington, D.C. to honor colleagues who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

For more information on 2011 National Police Week activities, go to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial’s website.

CBP Honors Its Fallen Heroes

Valor Memorial Ceremony held during National Police Week

Washington — U.S. Customs and Border Protection today held a Valor Memorial Ceremony honoring the agency’s officers and agents who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. 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 names of Nathaniel A. Afolayan, Trena R. McLaughlin, Mark F. Van Duren, Charles F. Collins II, Michael V. Gallagher, John R. Zykas and Bryan A. Terry 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.

Every day, CBP officers, Border Patrol agents, air and marine interdiction agents and agriculture specialists serve and protect the United States. These brave law enforcement officers exemplify CBP’s core values of vigilance, service to country and integrity. ( In Memoriam )

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.

National Police Week 2011

Honoring Those Who Serve

The FBI joins the nation in observing National Police Week from May 15-21. Events kick off in Washington, D.C. on May 13 with a candlelight vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. In the coming days, we will be updating this space with additional coverage of the events.

In a video message released May 12, Director Robert S. Mueller said, "On behalf of the men and women of the FBI, I want to personally recognize and thank each of you individually, and all of your departments collectively, as we work together to keep our neighborhoods safe."

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as Police Week. Today, law enforcement officers from around the world attend events in Washington, D.C. to honor colleagues who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

For more information on 2011 National Police Week activities, go to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial’s website.