WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI) today spoke on the House floor in support of H.R. 5142, a bill he cosponsors that would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. servicemembers killed during this summer’s evacuation from Afghanistan.
The full text of Rep. Meijer’s remarks as prepared is below:
“Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of H.R. 5142, introduced by my colleague Lisa McClain from Michigan, to posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. servicemembers killed during the final week of the Afghanistan evacuation.
“On August 26, 2021, thirteen American servicemembers were killed in a brutal suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, marking one of the deadliest days for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in the past twenty years.
“These selfless and brave Americans were put into an impossible situation, but their commitment to the mission at hand never wavered.
“They epitomized what it means to be a hero –they knew about the heightened security threat, they knew the risks, but they stayed at those gates to keep them open - each second buying time to save more lives.
“The chaos of those days in Kabul and the perilous situation our servicemembers and diplomats faced cannot be overstated. We owe an extraordinary debt of gratitude for the sacrifice that they never should’ve been forced to make.
“Every American should take pride in the heroism that Americans on the ground displayed in our final days in Afghanistan, and every American should demand accountability from those senior officials whose decisions put our servicemembers in a position that required such heroic acts.
“Today we honor the thirteen lives lost and keep their families and all who loved them in our prayers. Theirs is the epitome of selfless service, and a grateful nation honors them here today.
“I would like to thank my colleague from Michigan for introducing this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this effort.
“We must honor this ultimate sacrifice and honor the families who are mourning with the recognition and respect they deserve.
“I yield back.”
Original source can be found here.
