Kristopher William Eggle was an amazing young man.  He was truly a "gift from God" and for that we are ever thankful.  Through his high school and college years, he received so many accolades, but never really wanted the attention.  He felt it was more important to do for others, instead of taking in praise for his accomplishments.  He was class valedictorian, an Eagle Scout, a class officer, captain of his Cross Country and Track teams for three years, and an amazing runner.  In college, he was part of the University of Michigan's elite Cross Country team who won Big Ten and Regional meets.  He also graduated from U.of M. with honors as well.  He most recently received The Director's Award and the Class President Award at his FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center) graduation.  These are only a few of his accomplishments, but what we are most proud of in our son was his ability to love others and show kindness, integrity, respect and fairness to all.  He had strong Christian values that helped guide his life.  Kris lived life fully and completely with these values firmly in place every single day of his life.

Kris could have been anything he wanted to be, but chose to work for our country in a "servanthood role" as a Law Enforcement Ranger for the National Park Service.  He  loved the earth and the beauties God had created and he also loved the United States of America, her freedoms and laws.  He felt the blend was perfect.  Now he could help protect the resources and also be involved in protecting visitors and the citizens of America.  To him, dreams were finally coming true, but in the afternoon of August 9, 2002, Kris' dreams died and our world collapsed.

How could it have gone so wrong?  How could he be dead?  How could a drug-dealing assassin from Mexico so easily cross into the United States at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in AZ, ambush and "blow Kris away" with an AK47?  The answers are simple and that is what causes us to be justified in our righteous anger.  We will lay blame, even though we are not looking for revenge.  We are looking for solutions that will preserve our country and the LEGAL citizens.  We want justice so other needless murders don't happen and so no more families have to suffer with this overpowering, paralyzing grief as we are and will for the rest of our lives.

The leaders of our country, including members of Congress, members of the Appropriations Committees (especially those who dole out funds for the Interior), the Department of the Interior, and the National Park Service all share some culpability in Kris' murder.  If studies had been followed years ago instead of being shelved; if millions of dollars had been steered in the areas of most need; if the value of a human life were revered more than an owl, a bird, a cactus, or a visitor center; and if Congress would have decided that a real border, a vehicle barrier, was one of the answers for safety and protection to our homeland, visitors, and employees, then our son's murder could have been avoided.  These people all turned their backs on the ever-increasing reports of criminal elements, weapons and drug smuggling, and all the illegal aliens, and said, "No.  It is too costly to build a vehicle barrier.  It is not that important.  We can solve our problems by more studies and discussions with our neighbors."  My questions to all of them are, "What about our cost?  What kind of a price tag are you willing to put on our son's life and ultimately on his murder?"  That has still to be answered.

We also place blame on the American people who want and use these drugs.  Even when a tragedy like Kris' murder happens, the market for this evil filth continues to flow freely into this country.

The apathetic American public is also to blame because they sit back and say, "Oh, well, it isn't bothering me so I won't say anything or get involved."  They need to wake up and pay attention to what is happening all throughout our country.

It is time NOW for people to rise up and say, "Enough is enough!"

Panfilo Murillo Aguila pulled the trigger on that AK 47, but the above-mentioned groups also had their fingers on it...and we will never forget that.

Since Kris' murder, we have become much more knowledgable about the serious illegal invasion problems (and lack of enforcement of existing laws), security situations, political correctness, political agendas from both sides of the aisle, and environmental devastation beyond belief in these border states.  There are so many good people trying to make the government pay attention, but it seems to be having little impact.  That is why we need more "voices" to make our "noise" even louder.  There is a Border War happening and it must be taken seriously before more major disasters befall our country.

 We have started a letter-writing campaign/crusade in memory of Kris.  We have joined forces with many groups and individuals around the country and even in England.  We are not radical, crazy, or agenda-driven.  We are merely taking a stand for justice before it is too late for our Law Enforcement Officers and our LEGAL citizens.  Let's stand up and be counted together.  Kris would want that too.

Our beautiful son, Kristopher William Eggle, is dead.  He was 28 years old, six days short of his 29th birthday.  On his birthday, his sister, dad, uncles, and I were sitting on a grassy knoll at the cemetery picking out his burial site.  He didn't deserve to die in such a ghastly way.  He didn't deserve a bullet from an AK 47.  He didn't deserve a six-foot grave, but that is what he got because he was not cared for enough by those who could have made a difference.

Our lives have been forever changed by his murder.  Our hearts are broken and ripped apart, but we will survive and continue to "fight" for our cause.  If you did not know him (as one of Kris' close friends said at his funeral), you really missed someone very special.  We want him back, but that choice is no longer there.  That was taken away from us and we will never again be able to make new memories with Kris.  That is still so hard to imagine, but we will use our stored memories from the past, follow in his footsteps and try to make a small difference in this world.

If you would like to join us in our crusade for justice, you can contact us at bonnie@kriseggle.com.  We also have a website www.kriseggle.org.  We thank you for your support, concern, prayers, and help.  We also wish to give a BIG THANK YOU to Terry for allowing us this space and giving us the interview on Sunday, December 22, 2002.  May God bless the United States of America.

The Family of Kristopher William Eggle

Bob, Bonnie and Jennifer