Bishop Flores: Zapata 'spreading joy to those he met'
February 22, 2011 8:35 AM
By DIANA EVA MALDONADO, The Brownsville Herald

Nearly 1000 mourners filled the Brownsville Events Center for the funeral mass of ICE Special Agent Jaime Zapata.

Among the mourners, ICE Special Victor Avila who was wounded last Tuesday near San Luis Potosi in the same shooting that took the life of Zapata. Avila arrived at the services in a wheelchair.

As the family entered the Events Center, they were joined by Bishop Daniel E. Flores as they gathered around the flag-draped casket.

"Words are not capable of expressing adequate moments like these ... the death, the loss and yet by being together as the community has been together these last days, we believe there is some kind of consolution that you are not nor have been alone," Flores said in his homily.

An honor guard stood beside Zapata's flag-draped casket, which was flanked by another American flag, Homeland Security flag, floral arrangements and a portrait of Zapata.

"As I was looking at images on the Internet and the newspaper ... I was struck that he was always laughing and smiling as a young boy and a young man," Flores recalled.

"He was spreading that joy to those he met."

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano described Zapata as an accomplished ICE agent.

"He was so many things to so many people. He was a son, brother. He was loved by his family and friends and respected by his colleages," said Napolitano.

"He brought energy and drive to every challenge he faced," she said. "He brought courage and commitment to the calling he so ably served."

At least another 100 mourners are standing outside watching the service on a giant screen.

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