The morning began cold, and by midmorning, high winds and dust storms threatened to scrap the event, but CBP OFO kept things on track as their vehicles were moved into position to act as windbreaks, plans were modified, transportation was re-arranged and, eventually, Mother Nature assisted when the winds began to calm down a bit right before the ceremony.

The ceremony began with an introduction by Peter Stamison, the Regional Administrator for GSA (Region 9), acting as Master of Ceremonies. The Tucson Field Office Honor Guard marched in and presented the colors while the national anthem was sung by a guest singer from the local area.

The Governor of Arizona, Janet Napolitano, was the first guest speaker. She spoke of the importance that having a new, state-of-the-art port of entry will mean to the Arizona economy and the ability to facilitate international trade through the state.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters told the crowd how critical international trade is to the nation’s economy and how a new commercial facility will help to facilitate legitimate international trade in the area.

CBP OFO Assistant Commissioner Thomas Winkowski followed her and gave remarks about the importance of partnerships in getting a new port of entry funded, designed, and built. He also spoke of how a new port of entry, with the latest technology, will enhance our security efforts and ability to facilitate legitimate international trade.

The impact of a new port to the local community and potential for increased trade in the area is something San Luis Mayor Juan Carlos Escamilla reiterated to the community followed by the Chairman of the Greater Yuma Port Authority, Gary Magrino who spoke also of the partnerships between agencies/organizations and the historical steps taken to get the project from a simple idea to beginning construction.

The final speaker was GSA Administrator Lurita Doan, who shared what an important role land border ports of entry play in the security and economy of the United States, and gave a commitment by GSA to put land border ports at the top of their priority list.

After a brief benediction prayer by OFO Chaplain David Wlazlak, the speakers then proceeded down to an area where they could actually put shovels in the ground where the port of entry will be constructed and, as one, symbolically dug the first spadeful of earth to commemorate the event.

CBP officers and agriculture specialists manned registration tables, escorted VIPs to reserved seating, drove the guest speakers to the stage, and manned displays on commercial, passenger, NII, and agriculture programs.

GSA expects construction to be finished in the Fall of 2009, which gives everyone just enough time to plan for the next big event: Ribbon Cutting!