Angel D. Mercado-Velazquez Obituary

Siempre vivirás en nuestro corazón...

Ayer hubiese sido tu cumpleaños #34... Te extraño un mundo... Siempre vivirás en mi mente y mi corazón... Happy birthday my best friend 4 ever...

Amigo del alma. Tu partida dejó un gran vacío, aun estan frescos en mi memoria los momentos que compartimos, siempre te recordaré y siempre te extrañaré porque amigos como usted nadie.

I only wish I could have been there for you. I will never forget you. They always take the good ones. I'll have a beer for you.

My husband was in 1/325 with SSG Mercado and also deployed with him to Iraq. He often speaks of SSG Mercado, and speaks of what a good person he was. Our 3 yr old sons name is Angel and my husband chose the name, he said he thought of Angel Mercado. Our love and prayers go to his family. I remember so well the day I heard what happened. My heart broke for his family. God bless you and know that your Angel Mercado is never forgotten.

To the family of SSG Mercado-Velasquez: No memory sticks to me like that of SSG Mercado. He is a true hero

September 1, 2011
To the family and friends of Staff Sgt. Angel D. Mercado-Velazquez:
Please accept my remembrance of Angel on the anniversary of his passing and know that he will never be forgotten.

5 Años ya, Me recuerdo de todo como si hubiese pasado ayer. Descansa en Paz mi amigo.

No existe forma de declarar a su familia las condolencias por esta perdida....gran amigo del alma....TODOS TE EXTRANAMOS

I just learned of Mercado's death today when I was at our old unit 1/325 AIR. I had the privalege of having Mercado in my squad and found it devastating to see his picture on the Wall of Heroes. Mercado was a great soldier and friend. He had a way of making people smile and will always be remembered. Mercado Rest In Peace and to his family my heart felt condolences.

MERCADO SIEMPRE VIVIRAS EN NUSETRO CORAZON

To the family and friends of Staff Sgt. Angel D. Mercado-Velazquez:
Remembering Angel on the anniversary of his passing. May our fallen heroes never be forgotten!
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

thinking of you

A mi querido hijo

Si ustedes lo recuerdan mas lo recuerdo yo que soy su madre, todos los dias a cada momento lo recuerdo y todo lo relaciono con el, han pasado 3 años y 7 meses y es como si esa tragedia fuese ayer ,pero Dios me ha dado la fortaleza para seguir adelante dandome la fuerza y la esperanza que lo voy a ver alla en el cielo, es como si estuviera vivo y vendra en cualquier momento a verme y debo estar preparada para cuando venga, mi hijo querido no sabes cuanto te amo, aunque no estes, estas para mi,y en mi pensamiento todo el tiempo te amo, te amo mi vida, si otros te olvidaron yo no,continuas en mi corazon y pensamiento.
Tu madre

Pensando en ti.

Recuerdo ese dia con mucha tristeza en mi corazon. Tu cara la tengo grabada fresca en mi memoria. hermano, usted siempre fue gente buena. Todas las veces q nos fuimos en convoys y las historias q compartiamos. Dios bendiga a tu familia

SSG MERCADO

QUE DESCANSE EN PAZ HEROE.

ANA RIVERA
LAJAS, PR

Feliz cuarto cumpleanos mi amor junto a mi Dios amado. Te amamos y extranamos mucho.
Tu esposa e hijo.

Feliz cuarto cumpleanos mi amor junto a mi Dios amado. Te amamos y extranamos mucho. Tu esposa e hijo.

Que Dios siempre lo tenga a su lado. Bendiciones para su familia.

Lizardo Quinones
veteran
82nd Airborne Division
1971-1973

GRACIAS A TODOS LOS QUE TIENEN EN SUS RECUERDOS A MI HIJO ANGEL. YO COMO PADRE LES DIGO GRACIAS.

SIEMPRE PIENSO EN TI. MI QUERIDO HIJO.

SSG MERCARDO

DESCANCE EN PAZ YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTEN.

ANA RIVERA
LAJAS, PR

To the family of Staff Sgt. Angel D. Mercado-Velazquez:
Angel gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

Thank you for everything brother. You are the true icon of an american hero that will not be forgotten. Rest in peace bud. Love ya man!

Sgt Jay D, Erwin

Rest in peace brother. You will never be forgotten.

I WILL NEVER FORGET
TILL WE MEET AGAIN
THANKS FOR EVERTHING


SGT PATRICK JOHNSON

I was with Angel the day we were hit Sept 1, 2006. Such a tragic event and loss of a great friend, a mentor, a true hero, and my brother. I will never forget how much he critiqued me on little things. It made me a better paratrooper but most importantly a better person. Some of those little things I still carry with me today and I know hes watching, proudly. Angel also loved to teach me spanish. He thought it was very funny when I would say something so broken and backwards in spanish, we would laugh. We played basketball in our free time overseas and he used to tell me that, "I wasnt bad for a white boy!" haha! A true competitor.. He will remain in my heart for the rest of my life. I believe in eternal life and that the Lord will bring us together again. Until then, rest my brother! Thank you for being a part of my life. Your smile will live on in my heart and soul, forever. Love you buddy and I miss you.


Sgt Jay Darcy Erwin II

Wow there ain't really much I can say.... I just found out about this.. Better late than never as they would say.. Rest in peace brother.. Always remembered never forgotten...

SSG MERCADO

SIEMPRE VIVIRAS EN NUESTROS CORAZONES

ANA RIVERA COLLADO, LAJAS PR

We love our Soldiers! We love our country and we cannot express enough love and compassion to the families of our fallen heroes. War does not discriminate – It breaks our hearts to see the faces of the fallen. We want to give this gift to you. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Over 1,450 portraits have been completed and shipped to the parents and or spouse - at no cost as this is a gift from one American to another!
Contact us directly at [email protected] or go to www.heropaintings.com. If you have already had a portrait completed, we pray that you are enjoying the portrait and God Bless You.
Sincerely,
Kenna

QUE PUEDO DECIR DE MI HIJO. EL FUE MI AMIGO Y MI HIJO AL MISMO TIENPO. COMPARTI TODO CON EL. JUGUE BALONCESTO Y PELOTA. GRACIAS POR SER MI HIJO. COMO DECIA EL YO SOY UN MERCADO. COMO DICIENDO YO SOY TU HIJO;

Angel was one the most motivated Soldiers I had the honor to work with. News of his death was hard and compounded by the death of one of my own soldiers about one week later. I will never forget him and his dedication to his job. He was the model soldier and leader that all should emulate.

Holding you all in my thoughts and prayers.


The Wind on The Downs

“I like to think of you as brown and tall,
As strong and living as you used to be,
In khaki tunic, Sam Brown belt and all,
And standing there and laughing down at me.
Because they tell me, dear, that you are dead,
Because I can no longer see your face,
You have not died, it is not true, instead
You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe;
I hear you laughing as you used to do,
Yet loving all the things I think of you;
And knowing you are happy, should I grieve?
You follow and are watchful where I go.”

(Written by Marian Allen during World War l )

Two lines that I wish you to keep near your heart…….

“You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe”


I did not know Angel, but I am remembering
his service. He is my hero. !

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Other Side

i'm over on the other side
where life and death softly divide.
left my skin and bones behind
now i'm over on the other side.

can you feel me there with you?
my breath is gone but i'm not through.
loved you then and i still do
from over on the other side.

i can fly. really fly.
below the earth ... all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.

it's good here on the other side.
the sweetest songs...the bluest skies.
thank you for the tears you cried
but it's good here on the other side.

i can fly. really fly. below the earth...all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side

the world is smaller than a needle's eye.
where life and death softly divide.
when you leave your skin and bones behind
i'll be waiting on the other side.

i can fly. really fly. below the earth ... all through the sky.
go tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.

Song lyrics by Don Conoscenti
C Desert Muse/SESAC
www.donconoscenti.com
(Used with permission)

“I hope it brings great comfort to any and all.
Peace on you. DonCon” 4-2008


The Other Side –
(To hear the song)
http://tinyurl.com/3o8gol



Sincerely,

Deb Estep ~ Ohio
Proud Air Force Mom SSgt Vince – Lackland AFB
Proud Air Force MIL SrA Dana – Randolph AFB

Remembering The Fallen – Blog
http://tinyurl.com/3z8p55

Angel and soldier drawing I have shared here.
http://tinyurl.com/6gey8b

You are remembered and respected. Thank you Staff Sgt Mercado-Velazquez!

SSG MERCADO

A HERO NEVER FORGOTEN, YOUR SACRIFICE ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS!!!

RIVERA, ANA M BALAD, IRAQ 08

En memoria de un heroe:
SSG Angel Mercado, Siempre viviras en nuestros corazones y pensamientos tu sacrificio siempre sera recordado,
Ana Rivera

fuistes y seguiras siendo mi gran primo.nunca olvidare los consejos que me diste cuando hablamos. you will be always in my heart.I LOVE U!!! UR MY HEROE...nos vemos en el cielo.

EL MEJOR AMIGO Y EL MEJOR PRIMO DEL MUNDO..NUNCA TE VOY AL OLVIDAR.SIEMPRE TE VOY A TENER EN MI PENSAMIENTO Y EN MI CORAZON...DESCANSA EN PAZ PRIMO QUERIDO..Y YO SE QUE ALGUN DIA NOS VOLVEREMOS A VER....

There is nothing that I can say or do to take away the pain or bring you peace in your time of sorrow, but I will offer you and your family my heart felt condolences. I also offer you my prayers that in time the pain will easy and the memories of your HERO will carry you through each day and night. I want to thank your HERO, for his/her selfless act of becoming a member of the armed forces, his/her willingness to defend the United States of America, all that we hold sacred and for the sacrifice that will forever be etched in the memories of all those who knew him/her. Though tears can never bring him/her back, we hope that our tears express our gratitude for the sacrifice that he/she made and our sorrow at his/her passing. I believe for every fallen HERO there is a star shining brightly up above to remind us of the precious gift we were given.

Your mission on earth is complete and you are now a member of GOD’s Heavenly armed forces. Stand down brave warrior and take your rightful place in Heaven with all the HEROES who have passed before.

I made a special promise to LE RON A. WILSON, a dear family friend who joined the Army with three other friends, one of whom is my son (Le Ron was killed in action on 07/06/07 at the age of 18) on the day he was laid to rest as I touched his coffin, that I would never forget him nor would I forget those that gave their lives for our country before him, with him and after him and so when I came across www.legacy.com, I thought what a great way to keep my promise to Le Ron, so I will continue to leave tributes in each guest book until the day there is no longer the need to leave these tributes to a FALLEN HERO.

REST IN PEACE, HERO, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!

PROUD MOTHER OF A U.S. SOLDIER
Currently stationed in Germany
Althea Barrett(Queens, NY)

Thank you for the sacrifice made by Staff Sgt Mercado-Velazquez and the sacrifice made by everyone who loves and misses him! May God bless all of you!!

Hoy en el dia de la recordacion recuerdo mi amigo tanto en la cancha de baloncesto, cuando jugabamos en San German en la escuela donde su padre fue mi maestro, como en el campo de batalla donde siempre dio lo mejor de el, un gran ser humano, lleno de cualidades que muy pocos hoy en dia poseen, heroe, estrella que brillo con luz propia, un ejemplo a seguir , hombre de familia, de valores, realmente no encuentro adjetivos suficientes para describir a mi amigo que aun lo pienso y no puedo creer que ya no pueda estar aqui con los suyos, no es tan solo una perdida para su familia y amigos, sino tambien para el mundo, testigo de su valentia y donde queda plasmado su legado para futuras generaciones.. Angel mi pana...nunca te olvidaremos..."FALLEN BUT NOT FORGOTTEN"
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY...
MI CORAZON Y PENSAMIENTO ESTA CON USTEDES SGT XAVIER LARACUENTE

Please know how Deeply Sorry I was to learn of the recent loss of Staff Sgt. Angel D. Mercado-Velazquez.
The price this Brave Young Hero and his family have paid for this country and for freedom, Will Never Be Forgotten.

May Angel rest safely in the Loving Care of God and know that he is a True American Hero that will Never Be Forgotten. May the Grace and Comfort of the Lord continue to be with the Mercado-Velazquez family.
There will Never be Enough Ways to Humbly Thank these Young Heroes for their Sacrifices, my brother among them. Killed in action in Vietnam in 1967.

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord,
and He shall sustain thee."
~ Psalm 55:22 ~

May the Peace of God and your precious memories of Angel, remain in your heart always.
May this give you comfort and strength through the difficult days. Hope is not only the light we carry within...it is also what often carries us through...

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

SSG Angel Mercado, was one of my soldiers from the time he gotten to fort bragg and signed into the unit which was HHC 1-325TH AIR. I have had the pleasure of working and training one of the most finest soldiers i had ever worked with before, losing Mercado was a devasting blow to me and there is not a day goes by that i dont think about him i really miss him, he will always be remembered. To the family whatever you need please do not hesitate to call me or e-mail me. i will do whatever it takes to see that you get everything you need.

SFC(P) BARBER,MARIO

“Soldier”
Written to Honor the Service of Our Fallen Soldiers

Soldiers write history, we pay the price
Many miles distant, you live the life
Entered the Battle of our own free will
Out of Duty for Country, and we’d do it still

We hope and pray that all will find peace
In God, in the flag, in memories of valor
Gone now, our pride and courage you see
“An Army of One” our motto forever

Willing to risk all for love of our Brothers
We’re still Your Soldiers…and we showed the way
Our Lives too short, now pray for the others
Lived free died Heroes in lands far away

Deep within souls all cherished our Service
We’ll always have what some never know
Courage and Honor, our names forever
Lived life with purpose…just our time to go

We march in the Heavens with Honor and Glory
Missions accomplished we fought the Good Fight
Many years from now…we’ll tell the full story
Until that Day we will live in the Light

Our lives we laid down in a land far away
Still watching o’er you this night and by day
No need to talk…just know we are with you
There in your hearts and we hear what you pray

Yes we are your soldiers
Our lives we laid down
Still We guard o’er you
Still Duty bound

Entered the Battle of our own free will
Out of Duty for Country, and we’d do it still
We’ll always have what some never know
Lived life with purpose…it was our time to go

Angel is my hero. Angel fought to reach all his goals. He was a good husband and a great father. It hurts that he was just a short time in my life. I had wanted that this never had happened to us but nobody knows or understands the mysteries of God. I am always going to love my husband Angel with all my soul. Angel always is going to be the reason for pride for all specially for his son whom never it could know.

Mercado's wife.
(Sheila D. Mercado)

I was in basic training with Angel. He was a great man and will be missed by all that he came across in his life.

Angel para mi es una persona muy especial, es el gran amor de mi vida y el padre de mis hijos. Fue mi mejor amigo y mi fiel compania. Cada dia al despertar y al acostarme, me doy cuenta de su gran ausencia. Me duele en el alma el saber que cada vez que trato de buscar su rostro y de escuchar su voz, nunca lo conseguire, ya que se fue a morar con Dios. Es muy triste pensar que a alguien tan joven, alegre y lleno de vida, todo se le haya acabado en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, y que tan si quiera tuvo la oportunidad de ver o cargar a su primer bebe entre sus brazos, como cualquier persona normal. Solo me queda el consuelo, de que murio como todo un heroe y que su valentia y dedicacion siempre sera recordada por todos los que le amamos. Nunca habia conocido a una persona que pusiera tanta dedicacion y esmero como lo hizo Angel en su trabajo. Siempre dio lo mejor de si en nuestro hogar y a su familia. Solo espero que su gran sacrificio haya valido la pena, y que algun dia tenga sentido para mi y para su hijo. Siempre lo recordare con todo el amor de mi alma y estoy segura de que su bebe estara orgulloso del gran padre que tuvo y de su valentia. Siempre sera un motivo de orgullo y de alegria para mi, aunque cada dia que pasa lo necesito mas y mas y no encuentre sentido a lo ocurrido. Espero algun dia encontrarme con el y hacerle saber lo orgullosa que siempre estuve de el y con todo el amor que siempre lo recorde. Doy gracias a Dios por haberlo puesto en mi camino y por formar parte de su vida. Siempre lo amare y lo recordare.
SU ESPOSA,
SHEILA D. MERCADO

Mercado, will always be in our memories, He was a great soldier and a great friend. He was the type of nco who placed the well being of his soldiers before his... We will miss you greatly.

Querida Familia Mercado- Velazquez

Mis grandes condolencias para su familia la perdida es grande siento mucho la perdia de Angel, Yo entre al servicio militar junto a el en Puerto Rico estuvimos en la escuela juntos quiero decirles que SSG mercado siempre motivado me decia yo quiero ser parte de la infanteria del army y luchar por nuestra libertad lamento mucho lo ocurrido pero Mercado Nunca sera olvidado murio por una causa la libertad y seguridad de nuestro pais SSG. Angel Mercado Velazquez UN HEROE NUNCA SEARA OLVIDADO Y SIEMPRE VIVIRA EN NUESTROS CORAZONES Y PENSAMIENTOS mis oraciones para su familia.

My heart goes out to you at this time and in the days ahead.Angel a friend of mine we join the service together, the lost is great but he is a hero and he will NEVER be FORGOTTEN he will stand alive in our hearts, Knowing him he was really proud in what he was doing he always wanted to be an infantry soldier and defend our freedom.To the Mercado Velazquez family my thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. I am so sorry about your lost SSG Angel Mercado Velazquez A HERO ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS AND THOUGHTS..

My heartfelt sympathy to the Mercado-Valazquez family in the loss of Angel. I did not know Angel, but my heart is broken and I am saddened for your loss of such a fine young person and hero. May God bring you peace in your heart as you reflect on all the wonderful memories you hold so close. Please know that you are in my heart and prayers. Angel you are my hero and you will NEVER be forgotten.
I send each of you a hug from the most inner part of my heart.
Love and Peace
Tom

To live in the hearts
of those you leave behind
is never to die"
~Robert Orr~