Say Their Names:
Emotional Speech from Abbey Gate Family Members
RNC Day 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qK2OHXHYPc
Listen to the family member’s speeches above.
The speech delivered by the families at the Abbey Gate service was profoundly emotional, marked by tears from the audience and chants from the crowd.
As they walked onto the RNC stage, carrying photos of their loved ones, it was clear these families had been leaning on each other for support since 2021, as no others can truly understand their pain.
The disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan tore these precious souls from their families, and there is no one else to blame for the utter incompetence but Joe Biden. In the chaotic days of August 2021, as the U.S. military hastily withdrew from Afghanistan after two decades of war, a devastating attack unfolded at Abbey Gate outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport. Thirteen U.S. service members, including eleven Marines, one Army soldier, and one Navy corpsman, were killed in a suicide bombing that also claimed the lives of over 170 Afghan civilians. The attack, carried out by an Islamic State suicide bomber, occurred amidst crowds desperately trying to flee the country.
Yet, Joe Biden during their funeral checked his watch. He has never given these families an explanation or issued an apology, And he has never said their names.
This was their families’ chance to share their stories and express gratitude to President Trump, who had met with all their families, listening to their stories and consoling them in their grief—something Biden has not and will never do. They spoke about how much Trump’s empathy meant to them during such an unimaginably tragic time. That is the mark of a true leader.
During the speech, they criticized Joe Biden for ignoring their pleas for answers and recognition.
Last night, they finally gave their 13 service members the recognition they deserved. Each name was solemnly read to the RNC audience, who chanted back their names in unison. “Never forget! Never forget! Never forget!”
Here, too, we recognize their service to their country, to U.S. citizens in Afghanistan, and to Afghan civilians.
Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas
Mr. Espinoza, a Laredo Marine killed in Afghanistan, embodied the values of America: grit, dedication, service, and valor. When he joined the military after high school, he did so with the intention of protecting our nation and demonstrating his selfless acts of service.
-Representative Henry Cuellar
Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, of Roseville, California
I love my job.
-Sgt. Nicole Gee (1 day before she passed)
Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, 31, of Midvale, Utah
I want everyone to know how much of an amazing man he was and ask that people don’t forget not only his sacrifice but the family behind his great sacrifice as well, as we have truly lost such an integral part of our family.
-Nicole Weiss, fiance
Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, of Knoxville, Tennessee (U.S. Army)
“He was just so brilliant,”
“He could have done whatever he wanted, but he wanted to serve his country.”
-Alena Knauss, wife
Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California
“Hunter was selfless in his desire to serve his country and in so doing paid the ultimate sacrifice,”
-Elaine Homed, Indio Mayor
Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20, of Bondurant, Wyoming
“The good ones are always the ones standing up front,”
-Arlotta, McCollum’s wrestling coach
Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
“He was the kind of young man that you always knew would give his best effort and make sure the job was done, and done right,”
-Randy Shorts
Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California
“Kareem believed that our country is worth fighting for. He believed that maybe becoming a Marine, there was something big he was going to do to help better our country.”
-Shana Chappell
Cpl. Daegan Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska
“Daegan was a great American. He was a hero,”
-Jeff Harvey
Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
“Sgt. Johanny Rosario of Lawrence is a true Massachusetts hero gone too soon. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends,”
-Gov. Charlie Baker
Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana
“In those final moments of his life, it was a work of heart.”
-Coral Briseño, mother
Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Missouri
“Jared was an energetic little guy,”
“He was constantly happy. If you had the opportunity to look through our photo albums, you would see that no matter how we captured him on a camera, he was always smiling nonstop.”
-Mark Schmitz, father
Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio
“Maxton was MAX in all capital letters, all the time,”
He threw himself into everything he did with a fierce passion. We saw it during his high school years with his sports career. And once Maxton became an adult, he developed a passion for living.”
-Kathleen, sister
Thank you to all these brave men and women for their sacrifice for our nation and lives.
-FW
fight! fight! fight!
Sources
https://coffeeordie.com/darin-taylor-hoover
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/roseville-ca/nicole-gee-10358275
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-ryan-knauss-wife/
https://patch.com/california/palmdesert/memorial-honoring-u-s-marine-cpl-hunter-lopez-erected-indio
https://coffeeordie.com/remembering-rylee-mccollum
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/lance-cpl-dylan-merola-1-of-13-service-members-killed-in-blast-at-kabul-airport-to-be-honored-in-rancho-cucamonga/
https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/live-fallen-marine-cpl-daegan-page-laid-to-rest
https://patch.com/massachusetts/andover/massachusetts-marine-killed-kabul-airport-attack-remembered
https://fox59.com/news/final-farewell-to-a-hero-marine-corps-cpl-humberto-sanchez-laid-to-rest-during-burial-with-full-military-honors/
https://www.npr.org/2021/09/01/1033170634/the-father-of-a-fallen-marine-talks-about-his-son-who-died-in-afghanistan
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2021/09/13/a-passion-for-living-navy-corpsman-max-soviak-remembered-during-funeral-services/
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The following text presents the author’s opinions and interpretations of events without intending to cause harm or defame any individuals, organizations, or entities mentioned. While the author has provided sources to support their claims, readers are encouraged to conduct their research and employ critical thinking to form their own conclusions.
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