see also: in April 2002:   U.S. Customs Inspectors in Hidalgo Seize $390,000 in Methamphetamine   U.S. Customs Inspectors in Laredo Arrest Iraqi Fugitive Wanted by FBI in Michigan   U.S. Customs Inspectors, Del Rio, Seize 2,591 Pounds of Cocaine - Largest U.S.-Mexico Border Coke Seizure in FY 2002 To Date   Customs Kids Join Parents on the Job as Part of "Bring Your Child To Work Day" Event   U.S. Customs Service Patrol Officers Seize 1,678 Pounds of Marijuana on Monday   Maryland Woman Arrested for Transporting Over 30,000 Pills ...more on cbp.gov: And then Tuesday happened (U.S. Customs Today, September 2001) "I hope you find a lot of people" (U.S. Customs Today, March 2002)

contacts for this news release

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Members of Congress held a special ceremony in New York City today commending the employees of the U.S. Customs Service who worked at the World Trade Center during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The ceremony resulted from House of Representatives Resolution 385, a proclamation to honor U.S. Customs employees whose lives were dramatically affected by the World Trade Center catastrophe. The House passed the resolution last week, as well as another resolution honoring U.S. Secret Service employees who worked at the World Trade Center on September 11.

Congressman Ernest Istook (R-Okla.), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government; and Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), ranking Member of the Subcommittee, sponsored the resolutions passed last week.

At today's event, these two Congressmen presented U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner with a framed copy of the resolution honoring U.S. Customs. Congressman Steven Rothman (D-N.J.) was also on hand for the ceremony.

As part of the ceremony, Customs Commissioner Bonner also presented the prestigious U.S. Customs Ensign Award to New York City Firemen John Paul Augier of Engine Company 35 and John Hunt of Ladder Company 14. Firemen Augier and Hunt were recognized for valor in rescuing Joseph Webber, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Customs Service in New York, from the destroyed U.S. Customhouse at 6 World Trade Center on September 11.

In the minutes following the attack on the trade towers, Mr. Webber helped evacuate employees from the U.S. Customhouse and then returned to the building to verify no one was left behind. When the trade towers collapsed, the Customhouse was severely damaged and Webber was trapped inside. Firemen Augier and Hunt responded to the situation, locating Webber after he threw a chair through a seventh floor window. Despite all the chaos, the firefighters were able to get a ladder to the seventh floor quickly and bring Webber to safety.

"September 11 was a day that none of us will forget," said U.S. Customs Commissioner Bonner. "It is particularly important that we recognize the people who helped to save lives and those who were directly impacted by this event. I am proud to honor the Customs employees and New York firefighters at the World Trade Center who risked it all during this tragedy."