{"id":304254,"date":"2026-07-23T23:02:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T23:02:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/304254\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T23:02:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T23:02:18","slug":"mother-of-army-sgt-angel-rampersad-ozone-park-woman-killed-in-missile-attack-in-jordan-remembers-her-bravery-at-community-vigil-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/304254\/","title":{"rendered":"Mother of Army Sgt. Angel Rampersad, Ozone Park woman killed in missile attack in Jordan, remembers her bravery at community vigil \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friends, family and neighbors gathered in Ozone Park<\/a> Thursday morning to pay tribute to Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad, a Queens resident who died during an Iranian missile strike on a US base in Jordan last week.<\/p>\n

Rampersad, 28, who was born in Trinidad and moved to the United States when she was two, died during an Iranian strike on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on July 17.\n<\/p>\n

Rampersad\u2019s mother, Carol Acevedo, spoke through tears during Thursday\u2019s press conference, telling attendees that she was \u201chighly proud\u201d of her daughter.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cShe fought for this country and she died for this country,\u201d Acevedo said. \u201cI am a mother that was highly proud of her. \u200aI know she was really, really focused on what she was doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPhoto by Shane O\u2019Brien.<\/p>\n

Rampersad\u2019s family, friends and neighbors remembered her as a \u201chometown hero\u201d who will \u201cnever be forgotten\u201d in a vigil and press conference held outside her family home on 96th Street on the morning of July 23. A larger community vigil will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 27.<\/p>\n

In front of the family home, which flew an American flag at half-staff. Rampersad\u2019s aunt Judy Rackal, who spoke on behalf of the family. She said Rampersad had always dreamed of joining the military, adding that she enlisted a few days after her 21st birthday.<\/p>\n

\"JudyJudy Rackal speaks during Thursday\u2019s vigil. Photo by Shane O\u2019Brien.<\/p>\n

Rampersad was stationed in Hawaii for three years and spent another three years in Germany before re-enlisting and being transferred to Jordan.<\/p>\n

Earlier, she attended P.S. 108, M.S. 202, and Forest Hills High School, and then studied at Queensborough Community College and John Jay College.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel also spent\u00a0a good deal of her vacation time in her birth country of Trinidad, where family members and many of her friends are mourning,\u201d Rackal said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rampersad\u2019s sister Laura Tamby, nephew Liam Tamby, stepfather Anastasia Acevedo and best friend Bryana Martinez also appeared at Thursday\u2019s vigil. Her biological father is currently trying to make plans to travel to the United States from Trinidad, while Rampersad\u2019s wife remains on a U.S. base in Jordan, a family friend told reporters.<\/p>\n

Rampersad\u2019s family was present in Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday for the dignified transfer of her remains, attended by President Donald Trump and Secretary of War (Defense) Pete Hegseth.<\/p>\n

Sam Esposito, president of the Ozone Park Residents Block Association<\/a>, which organized Thursday\u2019s vigil, said the community is standing with \u201cbroken hearts\u201d in the wake of Rampersad\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

\"SamSam Esposito speaks at Thursday\u2019s vigil. Photo by Shane O\u2019Brien.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thank Sgt. Rampersad\u2019s\u00a0family for allowing the community to stand beside them during such an unimaginable, painful time,\u201d Esposito said. \u201cWe\u2019re grateful for their kindness, strength and hospitality as they mourn this devastating loss.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis family did not simply lose a hero; they lost a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, relative, and friend. Behind the uniform was a deeply loved person whose absence will forever be felt.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, meanwhile, described Rampersad as a hero and commended her for her bravery in serving the nation. Richards previously criticized Trump over Rampersad\u2019s death, stating that she was killed in a \u201creckless war that Americans don\u2019t support.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"QueensQueens Borough President Donovan Richards consoles Rampersad\u2019s mother Carol. Photo by Shane O\u2019Brien.<\/p>\n

However, he said Rampersad\u2019s bravery and service should be celebrated, regardless of opinions on the war itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter what you think of this war, what is not up for debate is the bravery it takes to enlist like Angel did seven years ago,\u201d Richards. \u201cIt\u2019s not up for debate how special of a person you have to be to wear the uniform and serve our nation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Richards has pledged to advocate for Rampersad\u2019s home street to be co-named in her honor (street renamings are generally approved by the City Council), as well as pledging to petition the School Construction Authority and Department of Education to name a school after her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel will forever be our hero here in Ozone Park,\u201d Richards said. \u201cAt minimum, the least we can do is rename this street in her honor.\u201d
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