As Son Is Laid To Rest, Soldier’s Family Gets Support

Although nothing can replace their son, the family of slain soldier Azhar Ali received support last week as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton joined with Councilmember John C. Liu and Arnold Fisher, Honorary Chairman of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF), to present a $1,000 donation from IFHF in honor of Ali.
“Although there are no words to ease their sorrow, I am pleased I could meet with Azhar’s family and express to them my sincere condolences,” said Clinton. “Those who choose to put their lives on the line to protect us deserve our eternal gratitude — there is no sacrifice greater than that which was asked of Azhar and his family. He has paid the greatest price for freedom and peace and so have they.”
Ali was laid to rest on March 18 in a traditional Muslim service in which his body was wrapped in three lengths of white unstitched fabric. Family members, who were finally granted permission to fly to the US for the funeral thanks to the efforts of Clinton and the Fisher House Program, bid a tearful farewell to the man who laid down his life for his adoptive country.
“We are very proud of my brother,” said Zulfiqar Ali, brother of Azhar. “Without your help [Senator Clinton] our family could not have come together and have things done right for my brother.”
Since learning of Ali’s death and his family’s desire to come to the US, Clinton’s office had been working with the US Consulate in Karachi, the US Embassy in Islamabad, the Pakistani Embassy in New York and the US Department of Defense in an effort to assist family members to obtain the visas and passports necessary to come to New York. In addition, the Fisher House Program, a private-public partnership that supports the military in their time of need, provided travel fare for the grieving loved ones.
“Azhar Ali is an American hero,” said Liu. “He emigrated to America, he pursued the American Dream, and he died making the ultimate sacrifice defending American values and ideals. The grief that Azhar’s family has suffered through is indescribable. This past week’s funeral for Azhar Ali could not have been possible without the critical effort made by Senator Clinton to obtain the necessary visas and passports, as well as travel arrangements, for the Ali family; the community truly thanks Hillary. The contribution from the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund will go a long way towards healing the wounds and helping the Ali family move on.”