Funeral for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Angel Rampersad being held Friday in Queens
Funeral for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Angel Rampersad to be held in Queens
The funeral for U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Angel Rampersad, who was killed in a Middle East attack, is being held in her hometown in Queens. FOX 5 NY's Hayley Fixler reports.
New York - The public funeral for U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Angel Rampersad is being held Friday morning in New York City.
Rampersad, a 28-year-old from Ozone Park, Queens, was one of three U.S. military members killed in action in the Middle East two weeks ago during an Iranian strike on a military base in Jordan, the Pentagon said.
What we know:
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul were among those attending the funeral service Friday morning at the Calvary Assembly of God Church in Ozone Park.
The church service was livestreamed on Facebook.
After the service concluded, a procession led Rampersad and her loved ones to Long Island National Cemetery in Suffolk County, where she will be laid to rest.
What they're saying:
By all accounts, Rampersad loved her country, her family and being a soldier.
During the funeral, her heartbroken mother, Carol Acevedo, found strength to remind those in attendance of the importance of what her daughter stood for.
"I want you all to know, all those who have kids, love your kids, hug them. I don't have mine to hug anymore. But to those who have, embrace them, cherish them, and be there for them. They will need guidance," Acevedo said.
Army soldier from Queens identified among 3 killed in Jordan attack
A Queens family is in mourning following the Pentagon's announcement that a local soldier was among those killed in an Iranian strike on a military base in Jordan this past Friday.
The backstory:
Rampersad's funeral comes days after a crowded vigil in her hometown, as the Ozone Park community and local officials came together to remember their hometown hero.
The Ozone Park Residents Block Association revealed a plan to petition to co-name the corner of 96th Street and 133rd Avenue in honor of Rampersad.
They are also asking permission to rename P.S. 63.
US launches strikes to ‘swiftly punish’ Iran for deadly attacks
The U.S. military launched a new round of strikes on Iran on Saturday night, aiming to "swiftly punish" the nation’s Revolutionary Guard Corps for an attack on a Jordanian base that killed two American service members.
Dig deeper:
Rampersad was born in Trinidad, but lived in Queens for almost her entire life.
She enlisted in the Army about seven years ago, after finishing college.
A representative for Rampersad's family told FOX 5 NY they remain in deep mourning.
The Source: This article includes information from the Ozone Park Residents Block Association and prior reporting by FOX 5 New York.