Army Sgt. Nelson D. Rodriguez Ramirez

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Nelson D. Rodriguez Ramirez, 22, of Revere, Mass.

Sgt. Ramirez was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition), New York Army National Guard, Geneva, N.Y.; died June 21, 2008 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire. Also killed were Lt. Col. James J. Walton, Spc. Anthony L. Mangano and Sgt. Andrew Seabrooks.

N.Y. governor orders flags at half-staff for slain soldiers

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Gov. David Paterson has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff on government buildings across New York state on Sunday in honor of three Army National Guardsmen killed in Afghanistan.

The governor’s office identified the men as Sgt. Andrew Seabrooks of the South Ozone Park section of Queens; Spc. Anthony Mangano of Greenlawn on Long Island; and Spc. Nelson Rodriguez-Ramirez of Revere, Mass.

The soldiers were killed last Saturday in an ambush en route to a training site. Their vehicle was attacked by an improvised explosive device outside Kandahar, Afghanistan.

All three were assigned to A Troop, Second Squadron 101st Cavalry in upstate New York. They were part of a multinational task force training the Afghan national army and police.

Friends, family to attend Mass. soldier’s funeral
The Associated Press

BOSTON — Friends and family of Sgt. Nelson D. Rodriguez Ramirez were gathering for his funeral at the Immaculate Conception Church in Revere on Saturday.

Ramirez, 22, was among three members of a New York Army National Guard unit based in Geneva who died from wounds suffered when their vehicle was hit by a bomb and small arms fire in Afghanistan.

The flag-draped coffin bearing the body of the father of two was escorted by police from Logan International Airport through the city to a local funeral home on Friday.

Gov. Deval Patrick was among those planning to attend the funeral.

The funeral is set to be followed by a burial in Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.

Friends, family mourn soldier
The Associated Press

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick joined hundreds of friends, family and well-wishers who gathered in Revere for the funeral of Sgt. Nelson Rodriguez Ramirez.

The 22-year-old Ramirez was among three members of a New York Army National Guard unit based in Geneva who died from wounds suffered when their vehicle was hit by a bomb and small arms fire in Afghanistan.

He was buried Saturday in Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, following a funeral service at the Immaculate Conception Church in Revere.

The flag-draped coffin bearing the body of the father of two was escorted by police from Logan International Airport through the city to a local funeral home on Friday.

Army Sgt. Nelson D. Rodriguez Ramirez was killed in action on 6/21/08.