January 1, Gold Star Family Delivers Stunning Rebuke to NYC Mayor at Fallen Hero’s Funeral

Wyatt’s Take

• The family of Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad made it clear they didn’t want NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s political theater at their daughter’s funeral — and who could blame them?
• While other officials honored the fallen soldier, Mamdani sat silently with prepared remarks he never got to deliver, reportedly blocked to avoid “political distractions.”
• This 28-year-old American hero gave her life defending us from Iranian terror, and her family deserved a dignified farewell without controversy.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani showed up to the funeral of Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad in Queens on Friday, but he never got the chance to speak. The family of the fallen soldier, killed in an Iranian attack in Jordan on July 17, made sure of that.

Mamdani attended the service at a church in Ozone Park but was not invited to deliver remarks honoring Rampersad, one of three U.S. service members who lost their lives protecting America.

According to reports, Mamdani appeared to review prepared remarks on an iPad as other dignitaries spoke. But his name was never called.

A source familiar with the funeral said Rampersad’s family chose not to have Mamdani speak in an effort to avoid any “political distractions.”

The mayor’s office later released his prepared remarks.

“It is often said that our fallen ‘gave their tomorrows for our today.’ Sergeant Rampersad had tomorrows waiting for her: birthdays, ordinary mornings, evenings spent with her loved ones. But she gave every one of them up so that we could have ours — so that we could stand here today, safe and protected.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, did deliver remarks during the service.

“I feel after reading and admiring this woman from a distance, I feel like she could be one of my daughters,” Hochul said.

The Department of War said Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York, was killed in action during an enemy attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. According to U.S. Central Command, Rampersad and two other U.S. service members were killed while CENTCOM and partner forces “defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.”

The other two service members killed were identified as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas. They were deployed to Jordan in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the international campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Rampersad was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany. She served as a 25U Signal Operations Support Specialist, according to the Department of War.

Why It Matters

Gold Star families have earned the right to bury their heroes with dignity and without political circus. When a young American woman dies defending our nation from Iranian aggression, her family shouldn’t have to worry about who’s grandstanding at the podium. They made the right call — this day was about honoring a patriot, not advancing political careers.