On the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing that claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, former President Donald Trump held a solemn wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. He was joined by families of the fallen, who shared their frustration and disappointment with the Biden administration’s silence on the anniversary.
The families, known as Gold Star families, accused President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of ignoring their loved ones and failing to acknowledge the tragedy. Mark Schmitz, whose son, Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, was killed in the bombing, stated, “I think this administration has shown they have treated the Afghanistan withdrawal like the plague – they’ve stayed as far away from it as they possibly can.” He added, “This is yet another spit in the face to the 13 families.”
Cheryl Juels, aunt of fallen Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Ghee, echoed Schmitz’s sentiments, stating that neither Biden nor Harris had reached out to the families. “He has never once reached out to any of our families,” Juels said of Biden, “Kamala Harris has never once reached out. Kamala Harris supported [Biden] this entire time.”
Trump’s presence at the ceremony was met with gratitude from the families, who felt his actions were genuine and a testament to his commitment to honoring their sacrifice. Schmitz emphasized, “He has always vowed to be there for us—since we met with him early on—and he has never let us down.”
The Abbey Gate bombing occurred on August 26, 2021, at Hamid Karzai International Airport as the U.S. conducted a massive evacuation effort to rescue U.S. citizens and Afghan allies. The suicide bomber, a member of ISIS-K, killed 13 U.S. service members – 11 Marines, one Navy sailor, and one Army soldier – and wounded 18 others. The bombing also claimed the lives of over 150 civilians.
The families of the fallen service members continue to grieve their loss and demand accountability for the events that led to the tragedy. Their criticism of the Biden administration’s lack of engagement and remembrance is a stark reminder of the human cost of the Afghanistan withdrawal and the ongoing pain experienced by those who lost loved ones in the line of duty.
