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Sights Set on Iron Cowboy, Durazo Tours Naval Air Station

By: Andrew Giangola
February 23, 2018

ARLINGTON, Texas – Edgar Durazo may have grown up in Mexico, but like all the cowboys in the PBR, he’s an ardent supporter of the men and women serving in the U.S. Military and honored by his sport each weekend.

As part of the PBR’s Celebrate America initiative, this morning, Durazo visited the US Naval Air Station Ft. Worth Joint Reserve base, Texas, a short drive from AT&T Stadium where the 26-year-old cowboy will be competing Saturday at the Iron Cowboy.

Durazo sat at the controls of Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters, toured the base’s radar room and went atop the tower controlling air traffic for the helicopters, fighter jets and giant cargo aircraft of the US Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Texas Air National Guard.

The bull rider met a host of men and women working at the joint reserve facility, which is one of two bases in the U.S. that serves as home to multiple American military branches (the other is in New Orleans). The sprawling facility was formerly a B-52 bomber base before it was converted in 1994 to providing training and support for 10,000 “war fighters” in all areas of the U.S. Armed Services.

In the flight operations tower, 10 stories above the two-mile long runway, Durazo watched a Marine Corps F-18 tear down the asphalt and scream into the sky. Looking down at a nondescript bunker, he was told that under the grass nuclear bombs were once housed for deployment.

“The whole facility was so impressive,” Durazo said. “It’s bigger than my hometown of 5,000 people, like a mini city with everything – churches, restaurants, stores, day care for the children, even a bowling alley and post office.”

What moved the 26-year-old bull rider the most during his first tour of a U.S. Military base was the humanity of those serving their country.

“I’m very impressed with the way they live and how they respect people,” he said.

“They’re risking their lives every day. I like to see the dedication and preparation and training that goes into being in the military. These people give so much.”

Having lunch with Timothy Ramirez, Petty Officer 2nd Class of the U.S. Navy, Durazo learned first-hand of the sacrifices that come with military service.

Ramirez was overseas during the birth of both his sons. And recently, his infant daughter had open-heart surgery. She’ll require another operation in the coming months. Through a compassionate reassignment, the Navy brought the Texas native back to Ft. Worth.

“I have family members who are in the military,” said Durazo, who now lives in Alberta, Canada, and tied for the event win at the 2017 PBR Canada Finals. “They’re always there supporting me. That’s the kind of people they are.”

Up in the control tower on a dank, overcast day serving up poor visibility and a host of technical issues knocking down half of the radar, Durazo saw the challenges military personnel routinely overcome. He watched as members of the different branches of the military communicated to ensure safe, meaningful training.

On Saturday, Durazo will be part of his own brotherhood, entering a locker room where bravery and camaraderie are also in full display, bull riders from different countries helping one another in a quest to make a dangerous undertaking as safe and survivable as possible.

Whether here in the United States or on the soil of Australia, Brazil, Canada or Mexico, the bull riders will pull together and help one another. They are intensely driven athletes who also happen to be compassionate comrades.

Make no mistake, each rider desperately wants the event buckle, and they’ll tape up broken bones and ignore aching torn muscles to show who’s truly the top cowboy.

But beyond competing to be the best, as the night begins and the home nation’s colors are unveiled, each rider will join in quiet solidarity during a moment of appreciation and respect for the men and women who give so much.

Today, Edgar Durazo gained a new appreciation of that sacrifice, another reason why PBR Celebrates America.

© 2018 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.

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