Border Agent BRIAN TERRY Laid to Rest Today

Agent Terry honored today at Detroit funeral

Posted: Dec 22, 2010 12:53 PM
Updated: Dec 22, 2010 12:54 PM

Video on webpage, 1:45 length

DETROIT - A funeral was held today for the U.S. Border Patrol agent killed in the line of duty last week.

Brian Terry was with three other agents tracking several suspects last Tuesday night. They were near Rio Rico, in Peck Canyon - not far from Interstate 19 in Santa Cruz County.

Gunfire was exchanged, and Agent Terry was killed. The other agents were not hurt, but one of the five suspects was wounded. Investigators have four suspects in custody, and still looking for a fifth.

Today, he's being buried in Detroit, Michigan. It was a very emotional and long funeral, with a number of friends, co-workers and even some of the nation's top officials taking to the microphone to honor Agent Terry's death - but more importantly, his life.

Agent Terry's body was led into the church in Detroit by a band of bagpipes, followed by songs, poems and prayers.

Emotion and tears poured out from the people who spoke about him, describing who he was, but perhaps the best description came from him. A letter was read to the congregation, written by Brian Terry when asked to describe himself.

"You may defeat me, but you will be lucky to escape with your life. You may kill me, but I'm willing to die in necessary," recited Sgt. Dan Boeman from the letter. "what I do fear is the loss of my honor. I would rather die fighting, rather than have it said that I was without courage. So I will fight you no matter how insurmountable it may seem."

Everyone talked about his dedication, commitment and passion for defending his country. One man even said that if Agent Terry knew what was going to happen that night - he still would have put the uniform on and went out.

http://www.kvoa.com/news/agent-terry-ho ... t-funeral/

Final farewell to fallen Border Patrol agent Brian A. Terry
Posted: Dec 22, 2010 2:11 PM CST Updated: Dec 22, 2010 2:18 PM CST
Click image to enlarge

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) - Loved ones paid their final respects to Border Patrol agent Brian Terry who was killed in the line of duty.

The 40-year-old was once a U.S. Marine, then a police officer, and finally a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

Hundreds of people gathered in Terry's home sate of Michigan Wednesday morning for his funeral.

From personal friends and family to top brass from the department he served, Terry is remembered for his service and sacrifice.

It was a formal and solemn procession complete with bagpipes. One by one members of Terry's extended border patrol family spoke of the agent's dedication to his job.

Border Patrol Chaplain Manuel Rodriguez stood at the podium trying to explain Terry's devotion saying "Brian loved the Border Patrol and everything about it, he loved you guys."

It was that devotion that led agent Terry to an area near Rio Rico on December 14th where he was killed in a gun battle with suspected border bandits.

Even Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano expressed her respects for Terry's service to the department, and to the country.

Secretary Napolitano also mentioned she was carrying a personal note from the president, addressed to agent Terry's family, expressing condolences and gratitude.

Meanwhile, more Border Patrol agents are being assigned to the area where Terry was killed.

Brian Terry is survived by his parents, brother, and two sisters.

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=13728639

Services held for slain Border Patrol agent

Posted: 11:48 AM
Last Updated: 3 hours and 9 minutes ago

By: Associated Press By: Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano vowed Wednesday to seek "swift justice" for bandits who engaged border patrol agents in a gun battle that killed Michigan native Brian Terry.

Napolitano, the top government official attending services for Terry at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, described him as an exceptional agent who cared deeply about those serving with him.

"He put service before self, which is the mark of heroism," Napolitano told Terry's loved ones and dozens of law enforcement officers from agencies across the country and neighboring Canada.

The 40-year-old agent was shot to death while tracking an organized gang Dec. 14 in an Arizona canyon just north of Mexico. Four bandits were arrested. Others are being sought.

Napolitano had said shortly after Terry's death that the bandits tracked by his team typically rob drug smugglers or illegal immigrants making their way into the U.S.

We resolve ... I resolve to pursue swift justice for those responsible for his death," Napolitano said.

Terry joined the Marines after graduating from Flat Rock High School in 1988. He followed his three-year military career with stints with police departments in Ecorse and Lincoln Park, outside Detroit.

Terry, a member of the elite Border Patrol Tactical Unit -- BORTAC -- once wrote that he didn't fear death because he had "been close enough to it on enough occasions."

His fear was the loss of honor, Michigan State Police Sgt. Dan Bowman read from notes Terry had written about himself.

Terry had written that he would "rather die fighting than to have it said that I was without courage."

The Justice Department, FBI and Mexican authorities are working together to weed out the remaining suspects from the attack, said Alan Bersin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner.

"The people who murdered him will be brought to justice. Make no mistake about that," Bersin said during Wednesday's services. "They can run, but they cannot hide."

Terry is survived by his mother, father, a brother and two sisters.


http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_ce ... trol-agent