On August 26, 2021, the nation grieved when thirteen young men and women in uniform lost their lives due to a suicide bombing outside the airport in Kabul.  This day will be remembered as the worst in the two weeks of chaos in Afghanistan.

These thirteen servicemembers - most of them in their early twenties - were there to protect thousands of Americans and our allies trying to flee the Taliban.  They were there to protect the vulnerable and do what so few were willing to do: to raise their hands and say they would put their lives on the line in order to defend democracy.

We are forever indebted to them for their service and sacrifice, and we will continue to remember them:

Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover
Marine Corps Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo
Marine Corps Sergeant Nicole L. Gee
Marine Corps Corporal Hunter Lopez
Marine Corps Corporal Daegan W. Page
Marine Corps Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez
Marine Corps Lance Corporal David L. Espinoza
Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz
Marine Corps Lance Corporal Rylee J. McCollum
Marine Corps Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola
Marine Corps Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui
Army Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss
Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak

Though they are no longer with us, we will continue to remember their names. 

All is well, safely rest.