LOVELAND, Colo. -- On a day celebrating mothers, a Loveland soldier’s mom mourned the loss of her son who was killed in action in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense says Sgt. Isaac Palomarez died May 9 in a roadside bombing and attack.

Every day since Issac Palomarez joined the army, his mother, Elma, has prayed, putting him in God’s hands.

“I know he is home now,” she said Sunday night.

Days earlier, Isaac had called her from the war zone to say a quick hello.

“Then he had to go, but he said he wanted to wish all the mother’s a happy Mother’s day,” she said.

It was the last time she would hear his voice.

The youngest of four boys, Palomarez played football at Lovland High School.

He skied, played roller hockey, and studied military history and politics.

His parents say the Army was his way of being part of that history and making a difference.

“He was proud to be in the Army. He was proud to be in the 101st,” said his father Candido Palomarez. “We all cherished our values and our freedoms, and so did he. It was in this case, something worth fighting for.

Palmarez had previously served a tour in Iraq and had deployed for Afghanistan in March.

His parents said his death is a reminder to all: pray for the soldiers still fighting and the mothers waiting for them to come home.