{"id":310918,"date":"2026-07-31T17:47:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T17:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/310918\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T17:47:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T17:47:09","slug":"queens-sgt-angel-rampersads-beautiful-spirit-remembered-at-funeral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/310918\/","title":{"rendered":"Queens Sgt. Angel Rampersad’s ‘beautiful spirit’ remembered at funeral"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even before she was killed overseas by an Iranian attack<\/a> on a U.S. airbase, Queens Army Sgt. Angel Rampersad was living a dedicated life of commitment and service.<\/p>\n

Before she enlisted \u2014 her mother urged her to wait until she was 21 \u2014 Rampersad was a drummer in a youth group at her church, where she also sang in the choir, when she wasn\u2019t running track or playing softball at Forest Hills High School.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe chose to dedicate herself to something greater than herself: to protecting others, serving her country,<\/a> and defending the freedoms that we often take for granted,\u201d Rampersad\u2019s sister, Lauren Tamby, said during the fallen soldier\u2019s funeral service Friday at the Calvary Assembly of God Church on Rockaway Blvd. in Ozone Park.<\/p>\n

\u201cBehind that uniform was so much more than a soldier. Behind that uniform was a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a cherished friend, and a beloved member of her family. Behind that uniform was a woman with a beautiful spirit,\u201d Tamby said.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Theodore Parisienne \/ New York Daily News<\/p>\n

The funeral services for Staff Sgt. Angel Rampersad, a U.S. service member who was killed in an Iranian missile attack on an air base in Jordan, at the Calvary Assembly of God Church on Rockaway Blvd. in Ozone Park, Queens, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Theodore Parisienne \/ New York Daily News)<\/p>\n

Tamby called her Rampersad \u201cSarah,\u201d a family nickname, and remembered her as a strong and selfless sister.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether she was behind the drums in church or wearing the uniform of the United States Army, Sarah understood something important,\u201d Tamby said. \u201cHer gifts were meant not only for herself. They were meant for others. Sarah served her country with resilience, humility and a generous spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Theodore Parisienne \/ New York Daily News<\/p>\n

The funeral services for Staff Sgt. Angel Rampersad, a U.S. service member who was killed in an Iranian missile attack on an air base in Jordan, at the Calvary Assembly of God Church on Rockaway Blvd. in Ozone Park, Queens, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Theodore Parisienne \/ New York Daily News)<\/p>\n

Rampersad, 28, and three soldiers were killed by Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks<\/a> in the first troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war.<\/p>\n

They were deployed to support a U.S. mission against the Islamic State group, a U.S. Central Command statement said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy daughter was a real hero and I will miss her dearly,\u201d said Rampersad\u2019s mother, Carol Acevedo. \u201cI want you all to know, all those who have kids, love your kids. Hug them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Theodore Parisienne \/ New York Daily News<\/p>\n

A wreath from the New York City Department of Veteran Affairs is delivered ahead of the funeral services for Staff Sgt. Angel Rampersad, a U.S. service member who was killed in an Iranian missile attack on an air base in Jordan, at the Calvary Assembly of God Church on Rockaway Blvd. in Ozone Park, Queens, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Theodore Parisienne \/ New York Daily News)<\/p>\n

Gov. Hochul expressed gratitude and pride for the immigrants who come to America and believe in the country so much that they make sacrifices, like Rampersad did.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish people would take notice of the fact of how many people came here, being born elsewhere, who actually step up and are willing to shed blood for a country that they are not born in,\u201d Hochul said.\u00a0 \u2018That is a lesson that should be observed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Gov.<\/p>\n

Theodore Parisienne \/ New York Daily News<\/p>\n

Gov. Kathy Hochul arrives ahead of the funeral services for Staff Sgt. Angel Rampersad, a U.S. service member who was killed in an Iranian missile attack on an air base in Jordan, at the Calvary Assembly of God Church on Rockaway Blvd. in Ozone Park, Queens, on Friday, July 31, 2026. (Theodore Parisienne \/ New York Daily News)<\/p>\n

The governor said she felt like she knew the soldier.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like after reading and admiring this woman from a distance, I feel like she could be one of my daughters,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m just processing the stories I heard, the loss that feels even greater than when I walked in the door, now that I feel I know her. Angel gave her best to America, and America is grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mayor Mamdani on Friday ordered flags to be flown at half-staff for Sgt. Rampersad, whom he called \u201ca proud daughter of Ozone Park.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c(She) devoted her life to serving our country,\u201d Mamdani said. \u201cShe met that calling with courage, integrity and a deep commitment to others. Today, our city mourns her loss, grieves with her family and all who loved her.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Even before she was killed overseas by an Iranian attack on a U.S. airbase, Queens Army Sgt. Angel…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":310919,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[85,267,9,24,264,10,12,63,122,124,123],"class_list":["post-310918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-queens","tag-latest-headlines","tag-local-news","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-new-york-county","tag-new-york-news","tag-news","tag-nyc","tag-queens","tag-queens-headlines","tag-queens-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=310918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310918\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=310918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=310918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=310918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}