Bellmore Remembers the 13 Fallen in Kabul
On Aug. 26, 2021, a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians. The attack, carried out by ISIS–K, unfolded amid a chaotic evacuation under the Biden Administration in the final days of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and marked a tragic low point in the withdrawal effort.
This loss remains deeply felt by communities across the United States and was commemorated during the 4th Annual Commemorative Flag Replacement Ceremony on Aug. 24, 2025. The event, which was conceived by Thomas Dowdeswell, Jr. and organized by The Real Bellmore Patriots, began at the Bellmore Train Station in Bellmore, New York. It continued with a caravan to the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway overpass, where 13 new American flags were raised in memory of the fallen.
Remembering The Fallen — Names and Branch of Service
Top Row (left to right):
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Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23.
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Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22.
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Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20.
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Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20.
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Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20.
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Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22.
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Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25.
Bottom Row (left to right):
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Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20.
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Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22.
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Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23.
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Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20.
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Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23.
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Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31.
Voices from the Ceremony
“Today, thirteen flags rise above the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway. Each one carries the name, the courage, and the sacrifice of an American who gave everything on Aug. 26, 2021, in Afghanistan:
Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover.
Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo.
Sergeant Nicole L. Gee.
Corporal Hunter Lopez.
Corporal Daegan W. Page.
Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez.
Lance Corporal David L. Espinoza.
Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz.
Lance Corporal Rylee J. McCollum.
Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola.
Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui.
Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak.
Army Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss.
They were young. They were brave. And in their final moments, they stood their ground so others could live. As a veteran, I know the weight of that oath. As an American, I know our debt to them can never be repaid — but it must always be remembered. These flags are more than fabric. They are a promise. A promise that we will never forget them. A promise that we will care for those they left behind. And a promise that when our nation sends men and women into danger, it will be with clarity, purpose, and honor.
May God bless the fallen. May God comfort their families. And may God bless the United States of America.
As we raise these thirteen flags today, let them wave as a living reminder: freedom has a cost, and it is paid by the few for the many. May we never take for granted the peace they purchased. May we live in a way that honors their courage. And may God bless the memory of the fallen, their families, our veterans, and the United States of America.” —Veteran, Greg Hach, ESQ. Republican contender for Congressional District 3.
“Due to the ignorance of the Biden administration, 13 soldiers were killed in a botched exit. The Bellmore Patriots will never forget. Every year on the anniversary, we change 13 flags on an expressway overpass as a remembrance.” — Jay Weinstein, Co-Leader, Bellmore Patriots.
Reflections and Perspective
The sacrifice of these 13 Americans—many barely out of their teens—remains a powerful reminder of the cost of war. Honoring them publicly ensures that their courage is not forgotten and that future generations understand the human consequences of foreign policy decisions. The Bellmore Flag Replacement Ceremony has become a living tradition, where flags serve as enduring symbols of gratitude and remembrance.
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