By Chrystian Tejedor
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
July 12, 2007
West Boynton
Beth Agami received another American flag Wednesday night during a memorial at the Chabad-Lubavitch of Boynton Beach in honor of her son, who died fighting in Iraq.
This one flew over the capitol in Tallahassee.
"Daniel would want us to continue supporting Jewish soldiers," Beth Agami said, periodically taking deep breaths. "Daniel was all about helping others on a large scale or on a small scale."
Wednesday night brought the arrival of the siyum, or the completion of the Torah. It was the perfect time for a second tribute for Pfc. Daniel Agami, 25, who was killed with four other soldiers when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee about four weeks ago, said Rabbi Sholom Ciment, director of the Chabad-Lubavitch, which is west of Boynton Beach.
"He is one of heroism, patriotism," Ciment said. "His mission as a soldier in Baghdad was to bring freedom to every soul that he possibly could. No doubt he completed his mission."
During the hour and a half long ceremony, friends who gathered to remember Daniel Agami were brought to tears.
David More of Boynton Beach cut short a vacation in Orlando to pay his respects.
"When I saw him come off the airplane wearing his uniform with his name on it, Agami, I was so proud," More said.
During a previous ceremony in Coral Springs, the Army posthumously bestowed Agami with the Purple Heart, Army commendation medal and the Bronze Star.
Agami enlisted in the Army two years ago and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt, Germany.
Because Agami was proud of being a Jew and because he taught fellow soldiers about his faith, friends on the battlefield affectionately came to call him "G.I. Jew."
The military even planned to have him appear on advertising material.
Agami was in Iraq for about a year and his unit was sent on raids to inspect bombs and other weapons.
In that short time, Ciment said Agami distinguished himself as a soldier, earning "no less than 15 medals, honors and awards from saving several soldiers' lives to classified acts."
Born in Ohio, Agami moved with family to South Florida at age 4. He attended the Hebrew Academy Community School in Margate and lived in various Broward cities, including Coconut Creek, Margate, Coral Springs and Parkland.
While on leave from his duties in Iraq, Agami spoke to the members of the Boynton Beach Chabad about his experiences during a Passover ceremony, Ciment said.
"He was an American patriot," said Haim Benzino, a longtime friend of Agami's father, Itzhak. "We had to pull stories out of him. He once shot a man who was coming at them with a grenade. He saved his whole unit probably from being killed."
Agami is survived by his parents, Itzhak and Beth, of Parkland, his sister, Shaina, 7, and brother Ilan, 23.
The family requests donations in Daniel Agami's memory be made to the Hebrew Academy Community School, 1500 N. State Road 7, Margate, FL 33063.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
July 12, 2007
West Boynton
Beth Agami received another American flag Wednesday night during a memorial at the Chabad-Lubavitch of Boynton Beach in honor of her son, who died fighting in Iraq.
This one flew over the capitol in Tallahassee.
"Daniel would want us to continue supporting Jewish soldiers," Beth Agami said, periodically taking deep breaths. "Daniel was all about helping others on a large scale or on a small scale."
Wednesday night brought the arrival of the siyum, or the completion of the Torah. It was the perfect time for a second tribute for Pfc. Daniel Agami, 25, who was killed with four other soldiers when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee about four weeks ago, said Rabbi Sholom Ciment, director of the Chabad-Lubavitch, which is west of Boynton Beach.
"He is one of heroism, patriotism," Ciment said. "His mission as a soldier in Baghdad was to bring freedom to every soul that he possibly could. No doubt he completed his mission."
During the hour and a half long ceremony, friends who gathered to remember Daniel Agami were brought to tears.
David More of Boynton Beach cut short a vacation in Orlando to pay his respects.
"When I saw him come off the airplane wearing his uniform with his name on it, Agami, I was so proud," More said.
During a previous ceremony in Coral Springs, the Army posthumously bestowed Agami with the Purple Heart, Army commendation medal and the Bronze Star.
Agami enlisted in the Army two years ago and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt, Germany.
Because Agami was proud of being a Jew and because he taught fellow soldiers about his faith, friends on the battlefield affectionately came to call him "G.I. Jew."
The military even planned to have him appear on advertising material.
Agami was in Iraq for about a year and his unit was sent on raids to inspect bombs and other weapons.
In that short time, Ciment said Agami distinguished himself as a soldier, earning "no less than 15 medals, honors and awards from saving several soldiers' lives to classified acts."
Born in Ohio, Agami moved with family to South Florida at age 4. He attended the Hebrew Academy Community School in Margate and lived in various Broward cities, including Coconut Creek, Margate, Coral Springs and Parkland.
While on leave from his duties in Iraq, Agami spoke to the members of the Boynton Beach Chabad about his experiences during a Passover ceremony, Ciment said.
"He was an American patriot," said Haim Benzino, a longtime friend of Agami's father, Itzhak. "We had to pull stories out of him. He once shot a man who was coming at them with a grenade. He saved his whole unit probably from being killed."
Agami is survived by his parents, Itzhak and Beth, of Parkland, his sister, Shaina, 7, and brother Ilan, 23.
The family requests donations in Daniel Agami's memory be made to the Hebrew Academy Community School, 1500 N. State Road 7, Margate, FL 33063.
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