August
11, 2009 -- Army Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro "Alex" Granado, 42, of Fairfax, VA., died from wounds suffered when insurgents
attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device Aug. 2, 2010 in Qole Gerdsar,
Afghanistan.
He was a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, and assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Jackson, Miss. He served for
more than twenty years.
Granado was home last month and visited his family over the 4th of July holiday.
There is no doubt of the family's pride of one of their own. His nephew Johnny
was quoted, "Were real proud of him, he was one of the bravest men I knew. I
always looked up to him you have to look up to somebody like that."
This video is a tribute in his honor. His interment services were held Aug. 10,
2009 in Tatum, TX. Crowds of people began arriving shortly before 5:00 pm. Many
came equipped with umbrellas to help endure the 101° heat index. Whiles others
came waving small American flags.
Once the procession, escorted by the PGR of North Texas, arrived approximately
600 people had gathered to bid a farewell to fallen American Hero. Army
representatives from Ft. Bragg performed a military funeral with precision and
flawless execution. Church bells and a Texas size bell rang out in honor of
Granado. He was given a three round volley salute and a bugler played TAPS. Four
flags were presented to his family.
In the end, the family said their final goodbyes, as a small group of singers
accompanied by a guitar, performed several Spanish Christian Hymns to help
console the grief stricken. After mourners offered words of sympathy to the
family they began to file out of the cemetery.
Information and Video by Jerry Castillo / USFallen.org
SFC Alejandro Granado
