Trump Honors Slain Service Members at Arlington Cemetery on 3rd Anniversary of Abbey Gate Bombing

Former President Trump attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on the third anniversary of the deadly Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members during the Afghanistan withdrawal. Despite the significance of the event, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris notably absent.

On a somber note, former President Trump joined Gold Star families at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to commemorate and honor the 13 American service members who lost their lives in the tragic Abbey Gate bombing during the Afghanistan withdrawal three years ago. The event marked a stark contrast to the absence of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who failed to attend or hold any comparable events.

Gold Star father Mark Schmitz expressed his disappointment, stating, "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." Schmitz added that Trump's presence "was genuine," and that he has consistently supported the bereaved families.

Trump Honors Slain Service Members at Arlington Cemetery on 3rd Anniversary of Abbey Gate Bombing

Gold Star Aunt Cheryl Juels echoed Schmitz's sentiments, stating, "It doesn’t matter what Biden or Harris say, adding 'it is not genuine.'" Juels criticized the administration's lack of outreach, emphasizing that "He has never once reached out to any of our families," and that "Kamala Harris has never once reached out."

The suicide bombing, perpetrated by a member of ISIS-K, occurred at the Abbey Gate entrance of Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26, 2021. The heinous attack claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members, including 11 Marines, one Navy sailor, and one Army soldier, and wounded 18 others. The bombing also resulted in over 150 civilian casualties.

Trump Honors Slain Service Members at Arlington Cemetery on 3rd Anniversary of Abbey Gate Bombing

The fallen service members honored by the wreath-laying ceremony were:

* Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, U.S. Marine from Utah

Trump Honors Slain Service Members at Arlington Cemetery on 3rd Anniversary of Abbey Gate Bombing

* Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, U.S. Marine from California

* Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, U.S. Marine from Massachusetts

Trump Honors Slain Service Members at Arlington Cemetery on 3rd Anniversary of Abbey Gate Bombing

* Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, U.S. Marine from California

* Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, U.S. Marine from California

* Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, U.S. Marine from Nebraska

* Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, U.S. Marine from Indiana

* Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, U.S. Marine from Texas

* Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, U.S. Marine from Missouri

* Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, U.S. Marine from Wyoming

*  Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, U.S. Marine from California

* Navy Hospital Corpsman Max Soviak, 22, a Navy corpsman from Ohio

* Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, a U.S. Army soldier from Tennessee

The ceremony served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by these brave service members and the ongoing grief experienced by their families. Gold Star families expressed their gratitude to Trump for his unwavering support and for honoring their loved ones with the wreath-laying ceremony.