Today is Red Friday, July 24, 2026, marking a solemn and stark reminder of the profound perils faced by our United States military personnel standing watch across the globe. As we wear red today, July 24, 2026, to show our unwavering support for everyone currently deployed, we also look back at the difficult losses sustained over the past several days during recent hostile actions in Jordan and northern Iraq.
Remembering Our Fallen Heroes on Red Friday, July 24, 2026
The Department of Defense recently released the names of extraordinary service members who made the ultimate transition during these harrowing operational events:
- 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, was assigned to the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command. Known for his exceptional tactical leadership and dedication, Lieutenant Feehan embodied the highest standards of the United States Army. What mattered most to him was the safety of his fellow soldiers, operational excellence, and his deep commitment to defending his nation. His legacy of courage on this Red Friday, July 24, 2026, remains an inspiration to us all.
- Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, was assigned to the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command out of Ansbach, Germany. A young service member who embraced a life of duty right out of high school, Private Gonzales was characterized by her fierce dedication to her team and her unwavering selflessness. Protecting others and upholding the highest standards of the armed forces mattered most to her.
- Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York, served with steadfast professionalism, looking out for the members of her unit like family. Her absolute commitment to her mission and her peers reflected the very best of our military community, and her loss leaves an indelible mark on all who served alongside her.
- Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was supporting overseas contingency operations when he transitioned during a controlled disposal procedure involving unexploded ordnance from a downed aerial threat in northern Iraq. Sergeant Swinton was recognized as a fearless and reliable professional who took immense pride in his hazardous duty, always placing the safety of others above his own.
The Families Waiting Back Home and Our New Gold Star Families
Behind every uniform deployed overseas is a family waiting anxiously on the home front for a safe return. On this Red Friday, July 24, 2026, we keep the families and units waiting back home closely in our thoughts.
With the loss of these brave heroes, new Gold Star Families have begun a journey of enduring grief. It is our solemn duty as a grateful nation to wrap our arms around them and provide our unwavering support, comfort, and remembrance for decades to come.
Standing Together This Red Friday
As we observe Red Friday, July 24, 2026, let us keep 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, and all our deployed service members in our hearts. Wear red today, July 24, 2026, honor their memory, and stand strong with our military families. Check out more updates across the RED Friday Category – Connecticut Veterans Bulletin.
Remember and honor 13 Heroes who also gave all this year
I am not a veteran. I am a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary. But in 1991, personal loss brought me to a place I never left.
Over two decades later, that loss led me to the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, Connecticut, where I took on the coordination of Wreaths Across America — which grew into the largest and fastest growing veterans program in the state. I didn’t do it for recognition. I did it for them.
In 2016 I founded the Connecticut Veterans Bulletin. Not because I served, but because I believe those who did deserve to be honored, connected, and kept alive.
Twenty-two veterans die by suicide every day. I knew about that number before it became a hashtag. I knew it personally, long before anyone was talking about it.
This publication exists because that number is unacceptable. Because every veteran in Connecticut deserves to know someone gives a damn.
That someone is me.
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