Daines to Join Senate and House Leadership in Presenting Congressional Gold Medal Honoring the 13 Service Members Killed at Abbey Gate

• August 26, 2024

Daines Introduced Bill to Honor Memory of Fallen Service Members

U.S. Senator Steve Daines, on the third anniversary of the terrorist attack at the Kabul Airport, joined House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in announcing that Congress will honor the 13 American service members killed in the attack by presenting their families the Congressional Gold Medal. The ceremony will take place in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. ET and Senator Daines will deliver remarks.

"Our country owes the 13 brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago a debt of gratitude we will never be able to repay,"said Daines."These heroes dedicated their lives to serving our nation and protecting our security and freedoms both at home and abroad. With this Congressional Gold Medal, we memorialize their ultimate sacrifice and honor their memory."

Background:

On August 26, 2021, during the final days of the Afghanistan withdrawal, a ISIS-K suicide bomber attacked the Hamid Karzai International Airport, tragically leaving 13 U.S. service members dead.

The following service members made the ultimate sacrifice that day and will be honored with the Congressional Gold Medal on September 10, 2024. Their bravery and courage will never be forgotten.

Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover

Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo

Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee

Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez

Marine Cpl. Daegan Page

Marine Cpl. Humberto Sanchez

Marine Lance Cpl. David Espinoza

Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz

Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum

Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola

Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui

Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton Soviak

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss

The Congressional Gold Medal will be awarded posthumously on September 10, 2024. The ceremony will take place in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol at 11:00 a.m. ET.

Read the exclusive story about the ceremony in the Washington Reporter here.

Daines introduced the bill in September 2021 after the deadly attack. Read the legislation here.