Honoring the 13 Fallen: The Human Toll of the 2021 Kabul Airport Attack
On Aug. 26, 2021, thirteen U.S. service members—eleven Marines, one Navy corpsman, and one Army soldier—were killed in a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport. The attack, carried out by ISIS–K, marked the deadliest day for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since 2012 and occurred during the chaotic withdrawal of American troops. This year, The Real Bellmore Patriots held the 4th Annual Commemorative Flag Replacement Ceremony on Aug. 24, 2025, to honor their memory. Beginning at the Bellmore Train Station and continuing to the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway overpass, the event featured the raising of 13 new American flags—each representing one of the fallen heroes. Veteran and community leader Greg Hach reflected on the meaning of the flags and the enduring promise they represent to never forget the fallen or their families. Jay Weinstein, Co-Leader of the Bellmore Republican Club, emphasized that the tradition of replacing 13 flags every year ensures their sacrifice remains front-of-mind for the community. The names and branches of the fallen are listed in this article, and their legacy endures in the flags that fly above Bellmore and in the hearts of all who remember.
