Senate Passes Roegner, Timken Bill Designating August 26th As Abbey Gate Remembrance Day
COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 244, sponsored by State Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) and State Senator Jane Timken (R-Jackson Township), which would designate August 26th as Abbey Gate Remembrance Day.
“I am proud to have sponsored this legislation with Senator Roegner,” said Senator Timken. “13 American Heroes died on August 26th, 2021, in the Abbey Gate terrorist attack, and their sacrifice should never be forgotten.”
In 2021, during the American evacuation of Afghanistan, a crowd of both Afghan and American citizens, attempted to escape the imminent Taliban capture of Kabul. U.S. forces established a checkpoint at Abbey Gate on the perimeter of the Hamid Karzai International Airport. As U.S. Forces checked visas, passports, and other identification of evacuees, the terrorist group ISIS-K launched an attack on the airport killing 169 Afghan civilians and injuring 150 more. Tragically, 13 U.S. troops lost their lives protecting the ongoing evacuation operations. Their names are:
- Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover, USMC
- Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo, USMC
- Sergeant Nicole L. Gee, USMC
- Corporal Hunter Lopez, USMC
- Corporal Daegan W. Page, USMC
- Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez, USMC
- Lance Corporal David L. Espinoza, USMC
- Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz, USMC
- Lance Corporal Rylee J. McCollum, USMC
- Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola, USMC
- Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui, USMC
- Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss, US Army
- Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak, USN – An Ohioan
Senator Roegner stated in session, “Generations of brave men and women have answered the call to duty and stepped up in service to our great nation in our US Armed Forces. They fight for freedom, independence, liberty. They are willing to sacrifice – for us – and many make the ultimate sacrifice. We owe these heroes everything.”
Senate Bill 244 has been sent to the Ohio House for further consideration.
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