Chicago – September 10, 2024
House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York led a ceremony awarding the Gold Medal to 13 U.S. service members who were killed during the Afghanistan withdrawal. This prestigious medal is the highest honor Congress can bestow.
The service members were honored for their bravery during a tragic event in August 2021 when a suicide bomber from ISIS-K at Kabul Airport killed them. In a moving part of the ceremony, Johnson named each fallen hero and apologised to their families, acknowledging that the government could have done more to protect them.
He expressed deep remorse and gratitude, saying, “We are sorry. The United States government should have done everything to protect our troops.” Johnson emphasized the nation’s commitment to remembering their sacrifice and supporting their families.
The ceremony concluded with Coral Doolittle, mother of Marine Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, urging people to remember and speak the names of the fallen, ensuring their stories and sacrifices are not forgotten.
