By 5 Towns Central Staff

OZONE PARK, N.Y. (August 2, 2026) — Tensions over political participation surfaced during a solemn memorial gathering in Queens, as Mayor Mamdani was reportedly excluded from the formal roster of speakers during Friday’s funeral service for a local soldier killed in overseas action.

The service, held in Ozone Park, brought together family members, neighborhood residents, and state and local dignitaries to honor twenty-eight-year-old Army Staff Sergeant Angel Sarah Rampersad. Sergeant Rampersad was killed alongside two fellow American service members during an attack on a military installation in Jordan. While multiple prominent officials were invited to deliver remarks—including state executive leadership, borough administrators, state legislators, and local community representatives—New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was ultimately not called upon to speak despite attending the service with prepared remarks.

According to reports detailing the event, organizers and representatives associated with the family opted to streamline the program to keep the focus strictly on honoring the fallen service member and avoiding political undertones. Attendance at the service drew hundreds of mourners from across the region, with speakers emphasizing Sergeant Rampersad’s dedication to service, local roots, and deep commitment to her country.

Following the church service, municipal police officers provided an escort as the procession traveled to Long Island for final burial honors. Although municipal leadership did not address the congregation directly during the ceremony, city official channels later published the prepared tribute honoring the soldier’s memory and expressing condolences to her surviving family.