This evening, over 20,000 members of the law enforcement family and supporters will once again converge at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, to pay tribute to the fallen heroes and their surviving families.
To help commemorate their service and sacrifice, please join me in doing two things:
Attend the 24th annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13 in person or via our live webcast; and
The Memorial now contains the names of 19,660 fallen law enforcement officers, with 362 officers’ names added this year, 163 from 2011 and 199 from previous years. During the Vigil, their lives will be celebrated, their service commemorated, and they will be forever remembered.
The Candlelight Vigil is a time honored tradition and is the Memorial’s signature event during National Police Week. Please join us in person or attend via our live webcast.
Children’s Network holds its annual “Shine a Light” on Child Abuse Awards Breakfast honoring people and organizations in the community who go above and beyond to help the at-risk children of San Bernardino County. Children’s Network, in partnership with Children’s Fund and the members of the Child Abuse Prevention Council, are pleased to select Henry Rivas to be honored at the 14th Annual “Shine a Light” on Child Abuse Awards Breakfast.
Rivas was nominated in the category of Education, Chaffey College and selected by the 2011 recipients who served as the Nomination Selection Committee.
The Children’s Network breakfast is always held at the end of March as a kick-off to April, Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.
Rivas is a member of the National Latino Peace Officers Association Inland Empire Chapter. Congratulations Henry!
Honoring HSI Special Agent Jaime Zapata on the Anniversary of his Death
Tomorrow, February 15, 2012, marks the one-year anniversary of the attack on ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents Victor Avila and Jaime Zapata while they were on official duty in Mexico. Thankfully, Victor survived the attack, and he proudly continues his service with ICE. For Jaime, February 15, 2011, was the last day of his life.
The anniversary of Jaime’s death is a time for all of us at ICE to pause, reflect, and honor our fallen colleague. We invite all ICE employees nation-wide and around the globe to join in a moment of silence at 2 p.m. At ICE headquarters we will also remember our fallen colleague in a memorial ceremony, which begins at 2 p.m. in the Julie Myers Conference Center. I encourage all ICE employees who are able, to attend this event at ICE headquarters.
PCN employees will be able to view this event through a closed circuit TV broadcast. To access the cable channel, use the number keys on your TV remote, select 3-1 then enter. If you cannot access this channel you will need to rescan your television using your TV remote. To rescan, first select “menu” then “TV channel” and then “scan.”
While we remember Jaime at ICE headquarters, Director Morton and HSI Executive Associate Director Dinkins will be in Brownsville, Texas, with Jaime’s family, friends, and our ICE colleagues at a barbeque to honor Jaime.
WILMINGTON, Del. – December 22, 2011 (WPVI) — Somebody tried to steal Christmas from the Hernandez family, but thanks to the generosity of strangers, Christmas has been reclaimed for their four children.
For a low income family, there are few things worse than coming home three days before Christmas and discovering that all the presents you bought for your four young kids as well as those donated by the Salvation Army were stolen.
Jessica Fernandez and her husband both work at the Family Dollar. They were at work Thursday morning when thieves broke in through a window and stole all the presents as well as the kids Nintendo DS video game system, a laptop and clothes.
“I spent all my money to do this in two pay checks like working and all that stuff, and they do that,” said Fernandez.
“I wanted to cry for her,” said Brenda Britt. “She’s worked so hard for this. She’s been doing it for the last couple months just to prepare for Christmas for the four boys she has.”
The evening began with no gifts under the Fernandez Christmas Tree, and Jessica trying to figure out how to explain the ordeal to her children.
But that was before she received a surprise visit from two neighborhood organizations.
When members of the Latino Peace Officers Association learned what happened to the family, they wanted to do something about it.
“These are donations from all the police officers and other organizations that actually help us out,” said Lt. Ruben Martinez.
The officers came with lots of toys, and they had one more surprise before they left.
“We also have a $100 gift certificate so you can use either Sears or Kmart ,” said Lt. Martinez.
“Thank you so much, I really appreciate it,” said Jessica. “I know they’re gonna have a good one.”
Judging by the smiles on their faces, Jessica and her boys were very surprised.
But the Fernandez family had another visitor shortly afterwards.
“We’re from the Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center,” said Nickea Rowe. Her organization heard about the stolen gifts and left a few surprises of their own.
Jessica was overwhelmed and moved to tears.
The family went from no presents under the Christmas tree to lots and lots of toys.
Thanks to the Latino Peace Officers and the Lutheran Neighborhood Care center, it will be a very Merry Christmas for the Fernandez family.
