Santos R. Armijo laid to rest

Army Specialist Santos R. Armijo, 22, was one of four soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, who were killed Oct. 2, in a roadside bombing.

Friends and family are remembering Armijo today, with a Mass at St. Mary's Basilica in downtown Phoenix.

Even strangers were there to pay their respects, honoring Armijo and his sacrifice.

The Patriot Guard Riders lined the steps of the church before and after the Mass.

"I know he's an American. I know he's a hero. I don't need to know more," said Lou Ann Cawthon of the Patriot Guard Riders.

"We honor him and his family," said another Riders member. "We thank him for his service and his gift."

Louie Olivas, Armijo's uncle, said his nephew was proud to serve his country, proud to be in Iraq.

"He was happy being there," Olivas explained.

The young man's family and fiancee were all too aware of the dangers he faced.

Armijo was just 52 days from coming home. He planned to go back to school and get married.

"He was engaged," Olivas said. "They decided to bury him with his wedding ring."

While the death toll in Iraq continues to rise, the Patriot Guard Riders will be among the first to point out that Armijo is more than just a number.


"Our soldiers are so worth everybody stopping for a minute and thinking about what they have, where they live and that somebody is willing to die for that," Cathon said. "It should be given our greatest respect."

Burial was scheduled at St. Francis Cemetery in east Phoenix.

From KTVK 3

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