Senator Clinton Meets With Family of Slain American Soldier Azhar Ali

Senator Clinton Meets With Family of Slain American Soldier Azhar Ali

Senator Clinton and Councilmember John Liu join the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund in paying their respects to the family

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton joined yesterday with Councilmember John C. Liu, and Arnold Fisher, Honorary Chairman of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund in meeting with the family of slain Pakistani-American soldier Azhar Ali. At the meeting, Arnold Fisher presented the family with a donation from the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, in honor of their son.

"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. 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," Senator Clinton said. "I am pleased that we could help in some way to bring this family to New York so that they could lay their son and brother to rest."

"I want to take this opportunity to thank Councilman Liu who has been a tremendous source of support to the family. I also want to thank Bill White, President of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and in particular, Arnold Fisher, Chairman of the Intrepid and Honorary Chairman of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, and Vice Chairman of the Fisher House Foundation for his immense generosity and commitment to helping this family and all of America's military families in their time of need," Senator Clinton added.

"Azhar Ali is an American hero. He immigrated 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. This contribution from the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund will go a long way towards healing the wounds and helping the Ali family move on," said Councilmember Liu.

Since learning the news of Specialist Ali's death, and his family's desire to come to the United States for his funeral, Senator Clinton's office has been working with the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, the Pakistani Embassy in New York and the U.S. Department of Defense in an effort to assist them.

Through Senator Clinton's intervention, Specialist Ali's family was able to gain the necessary passports and visas to travel to the U.S. The Fisher House Program generously provided financial assistance for the family to come to the United States for Ali's funeral.

The Fisher House Program is a private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund provides unrestricted grants to the families of military personnel who have given their lives in the current operations in defense of our country.

http://clinton.senate.gov/~clinton/news/2005/2005321712.html