“7260? 960…”
“7260? 960…”
“7260? 960…” Silence. No response. Breaking the silence, the responding voice seared the hearts of Border Patrol agents—“10-7,” agents “out of service,” and then, the final “out of service” call “10-42.” Hearing this call told all who heard it that one of their own had received his final call.

On Tuesday, September 21, 2004, Senior Border Patrol Agent Travis Wayne Attaway, 31, McAllen Sector, Harlingen Station, Harlingen, Texas drowned in the line of duty along with partner, friend and fellow Senior Patrol Agent Jeremy Wilson, 29, while responding to a call from a sensor.

An emotional joint memorial service was held in Harlingen, Tex., on Thursday September 23, 2004, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. The next morning, cars filled with agents and families lined up at the Harlingen station to follow the hearse carrying Travis Attaway home to D’Hanis, Tex.—over 100 miles away. I too was part of that procession.

The Harlingen police blocked on-ramps and streets as the long journey began, with over 50 vehicles representing friends and other agencies. As the motorcade traveled from one county to the next, a sheriff’s deputy was ready and waiting to escort us.

Words cannot express what it feels like to be a part of an event of this magnitude. Pride and careful planning was evident in the almost presidential motorcade. Light bars flashed on marked and unmarked units from various agencies while civilians pulled their cars alongside the road. Some got out with heads bowed, some with hands folded or over their hearts, and in great Texas tradition, some placed their hats over their hearts. As the motorcade passed through cities with Border Patrol stations, fellow agents lined the way, standing at attention and in formation, saluting as their fallen comrade made way to his final destination.

Although the population of D’Hanis is small, their hearts are as big as Texas. They showed the true meaning of community by banding together for the Attaway family. Residents lined up and down the streets watching, waving flags, saluting, and weeping as they paid respect to a hometown hero. Fire trucks draped with the American flag blocked off the streets that marked the motorcade route and “Old Glory” waved from the corner posts to guide our final turn. The quiet tapping of drums gave way to silence in the street where family and friends had gathered to see their loved one come home. Bagpipes played mournfully as the coffin was pulled from the hearse to where the body would lay at rest for the night with a 24-hour guard at watch.

Preparation for the Saturday morning ceremonies started early. Once again, lines of agents in full ceremonial uniform stood at attention as Attaway’s coffin left for the short trip where services would be held. Long lines formed outside the church well before the 10:00 a.m. funeral. What looked like a sea of Border Patrol green lined the walls of the now standing-room-only Holy Cross Catholic Church in D’Hanis as agents made way for mourners. The 800-plus seats of the church were filled and another hall was opened with live video feed for the overflow. CBP Border Patrol Chief Aguilar and PAIC Pena spoke on behalf of the entire Border Patrol.

At the end of the service, 100+ agents in full dress uniform lined three deep on each side of the long entrance to the church. They stood in formation as the Honor Guard in gold braid and tams waited to present arms. Hundreds of cars joined the three-mile funeral procession to the burial site.

As people gathered in the intense South Texas heat, the sharp, crisp sound of heavy cotton material floated throughout the crowd as the Honor Guard gripped the four corners of the American flag and readied it for military folding. A whaap, whaap, whaap sound made its way from a distance as three helicopters passed overhead. Shots of a 21-gun salute rang out and hung heavily in the air. Trumpets played “Taps” followed by the mournful sounds of “Amazing Grace” on a lone bagpipe before the other agents clad in traditional kilts chimed in. When the sounds faded, the final call was made over the radio.

“7260? 960…”
“7260? 960…”
“7260? 960…”

Agent Jeremy Wilson goes home After the memorial service on September 23, 2004, Agent Jeremy Wilson’s body was flown from Harlingen, Tex. to Seattle, Wash. A solemn procession accompanied the hearse that transported Wilson’s body the 90 miles to his home and final resting place in Bellingham, Wash. Fellow Border Patrol agents and representatives from local law enforcement agencies, including many Canadian law enforcement officers were a part of the more than 100 car procession. Agent Wilson received full tribute from his Border Patrol colleagues, including the Border Patrol Honor Guard and the traditional final call from a radio dispatcher.