WE ARE FAMILY
On May 12, 1980, forty–four individuals from across the
United States from different backgrounds, different cities, and different nationalities
gathered in locations such as Laredo, Marfa and El Paso, Texas and El Centro
and San Diego, California. At the time, they were unaware of the impact
meeting one another would have on them. Three days later these groups boarded
planes and flew east-final destination-Glynco, GA. Once there, these groups
joined together for training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center,
commonly known as FLETC, and formed the 135th Session of the U.S. Border Patrol
Academy. Like all new agents, they came together, some a little hesitant;
frightened or worried about the jobs and the families they left behind to
venture into a new career. For four months these individuals trained together,
worked together, drank together, and they began to know one another. By the end
of their four month training session, graduation day arrived, but they did not
graduate as individuals, they graduated as ONE. The 135th developed a special
bond, a bond that has lasted 35 years. They graduated as ONE, as in one FAMILY. They refer
to themselves as HERMANOS, Brothers. Granted, not all of the 135th graduated and those who
did, not all of them kept in contact with the class, but they have been
able to keep in touch with a good number of their hermanos over the years. Some
of them went on to different agencies and some chose to stay with the green,
but they made the effort to stay in touch no matter where they went. They
managed to remain in touch with one another even before email, Skype, Twitter
or Facebook. Some of you reading this were merely babies, heck, some weren't
even born when the 135th came together. After all these years, throughout their
careers and into retirement, they stayed in touch.
On May 12, 2010 Los Hermanos of the 135th celebrated
their 30 year anniversary with a reunion at The Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, NV.
They ate, they drank, they joked, and they reminisced. It was a good reunion,
no they had a GREAT REUNION, enjoyed by all. You may have heard of Border
Patrol classes who had some get togethers but do you know of any class who has
had reunions for their 20th, 25th and 30th anniversaries? And in between they
have had mini-reunions or get togethers in Laughlin, Nevada and Phoenix,
Arizona. And want to know why their reunions are great, what makes them so
special? Because they are together again, as ONE!
Their family is all inclusive. Decisions for their
reunions, their get togethers includes the wives. Their suggestions, their
ideas are just as important as those of the classmates. During the
planning of one reunion, a cruise ship reunion was mentioned, but when
it became known that a few of the wives had a fear of being on the ocean,
that suggestion went no further. Their reunions are for everyone to enjoy, as a
family.
On May 12, 2015 the 135th Session of the U.S. Border
Patrol will be celebrating their 35th anniversary with a reunion in
Las Vegas, Nevada. This reunion will be even better than their previous
reunions. Along with some invited guests, their class was able to contact four
of their academy instructors, and all four have accepted their invitation
to attend. They are Alvin (Butch) EVENSON-Law Instructor, Clark RICHARDS-Law
Instructor, Ron CARNES-Law Instructor and Allen DWELLEY-PT Instructor.
When entering the Patrol they are told that the Border
Patrol is a family, that they all wear green and that they take care of their
own. We can't speak for the many other Border Patrol classes, whether their
academy was at Glynco, Charleston, or Artesia, but the 135th is a prime example
of the song that states, "We are Family". Through all of the changes
in their careers, and their lives, the one thing that hasn't changed is the
friendship, the comradery and that special bond the 135th formed 35 years ago
on May 12, 1980.
End of Watch:
SPA Miguel MALDONADO, Port Isabel, TX - Died on Duty 03/10/1997
SPA Richard PIERCE retired - RIP 02/03/2013 cancer
SBPA Jeffrey A. HAMRIN retired - RIP 02/21/2015 cancer
Rest easy, sleep well my
brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
If you are a family member or member of class 135 and would
like more information email Arturo “Turi” Payan at sincanicas@msn.com.
