Local marine killed in Iraq laid to rest

Hundreds of people filled New Day Church in Irondequoit to celebrate the life and mourn the loss of Corporal Reynold Armand. “He was just a great person. There was so much news about him and there was a lot of stuff. He was just a great person,” said Jose Rodriguez. The 21-year old marine was killed on August 7th while serving in Iraq. Armand had been home in Rochester visiting family just two weeks before he died. “He was an exceptional kid very respectful knew what he wanted to do for a young man 21 years of age he knew what he wanted to do,” said Armand’s uncle Porfirio Mercado. Armand was a 2004 graduate of Eastridge High School. He enlisted in the marines shortly after graduating and was deployed to Iraq in January. Friends and family say Armand was a quiet shy young man who knew the risks of the mission. Jose Rodriguez says the he met Reynold five years ago as part of a youth church group called the "New Church Movement". Rodriguez says the two became fast friends and shared a love of video games. He says even after being deployed to Iraq, Armand was always upbeat. “It was always good times. No matter if he was struggling out there he would come back with positive attitude like we would never know anything was wrong you know,” said Rodriguez. Armand was buried with full military honors at Riverside Cemetery. “I pray that God will give them inner peace consolation and for this country and the whole world we pray that we may have peace,” said Father Paul Gitau. The Department of defense is still investigating the circumstances surrounding Armand’s death.