Family members of the 28-year-old Queens soldier killed in an Iranian missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan chose to keep her memorial focused solely on her sacrifice, excluding political speeches from the program — including from New York City's own mayor.
Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad of Ozone Park was one of three U.S. service members killed July 17 in an Iranian missile and drone attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Her funeral was held Friday at Calvary Assembly of God in Ozone Park, Queens.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had issued a public statement on Rampersad's death, attended the service and was seated in the fourth row, near Republican City Councilman Frank Morano. According to a source who attended the funeral, Mamdani spent much of the service reviewing a prepared eulogy on an iPad as other dignitaries — including Gov. Kathy Hochul and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards — were called to the podium. His name was never called.
"They kept calling names and then he was never called," the source said. "Then he looked over at his staff, frustrated and seemed angry that he didn't speak. When he realized his name wasn't being called, he looked at his staff angrily and then eventually put his tablet away."
A source close to the funeral's planning told reporters that Rampersad's family holds politically conservative views and did not want Mamdani — a self-described democratic socialist and outspoken critic of Israel and the U.S. response to Iran — addressing the service. "The family is more conservative and wanted to limit any political distractions," the source said.
Not everyone in attendance found the decision unremarkable. Councilman Morano, a Republican with no particular allegiance to the mayor, told reporters he was surprised he wasn't asked to speak: "I didn't understand why they would have lower-level officials speak and not the mayor."
Mamdani's office later released the eulogy he had prepared but never delivered. It opened: "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."
Rampersad grew up in Ozone Park and graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice before enlisting in the Army, following in the footsteps of an uncle who had also served. The Department of War confirmed she was killed in action on July 17, 2026, during the attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.
City Hall did not respond to requests for comment on why the mayor was left off the program.
The episode adds to ongoing tensions surrounding Mamdani's relationship with the city's military and first-responder community, including calls from some 9/11 families for the mayor to skip the 25th-anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero this September, citing what they've called his "hostile" record on related issues.
Sources:
NBC New York: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/queens/watch-live-angel-rampersad-funeral-queens-soldier-killed-jordan-iran/6532288/