Army Specialist Daniel Agami. {courtesy}
Daniel Agami loved serving in the U.S. Army and enjoyed an active life. But tragedy took his life early.
Army Specialist Daniel Agami was killed in action on June 21, 2007, in Adhamiyah, Iraq, when an IED exploded next to the tank he was driving. Four other soldiers were killed, and one Iraqi interpreter died alongside him. He was 25, according to his mother, Beth Agami.
Beth wanted to do something to honor Daniel. The City of Parkland planted a tree with an engraved plaque in front of city hall, and Daniel’s portrait and plaque are also at the main entrance of the Parkland Library.
“As an American Gold Star Mother, I knew a Veterans Park needed to be established in the City of Parkland because our family didn’t want to have to leave the City of Parkland to go to surrounding cities for Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day,” said Beth.
In 2013, she worked closely with former Commissioner Mark Weissman to make Veteran’s Park in Parkland a reality.
“For the same reason, we need a flag drop box here in the city. Some surrounding cities have these flag drop boxes, but I thought it would be a great addition for Parkland residents to return and dispose of their American flags properly,” said Beth.
The flagbox dedicated to Army Specialist Daniel Agami. {courtesy}
Beth initially contacted Commissioner Ken Cutler, who helped her begin the process. “I told Ken that the catch would be that the flag drop box would have to be dedicated to Daniel’s ultimate sacrifice and any other Parklander’s as well,” she said.
The flag drop box is located on the north side of city hall.
According to Beth, Daniel was a well-known DJ in the Coral Springs-Parkland area who loved athletics and bodybuilding. He attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School but left early to attend Broward Community College. He encouraged his fellow soldiers to exercise and improve themselves physically.
“The attacks of September 11, 2001, changed the trajectory of his life, and he decided to enlist in the Army at age 23,” said Beth.
According to Beth, Daniel served with the Army in the 1/26 Infantry Unit. He reenlisted for four more years before he was killed. He was known as “the Hebrew Hammer” and was the only known Jewish serviceman in his unit serving on the front lines in Iraq. According to Beth, Daniel maintained a kosher diet and did his best to maintain Jewish observance.
In an interview, Beth said Daniel was able to return home for Pesach in the Spring of 2006. It was the last time he saw his family. Even when he got to Iraq, he was always Jewishly connected. “He always had his tallis and tefillin, and when they recovered his body, he had his tehillim and the mezuzah that he wore around his neck.”
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