As US marks 9/11, a divided Congress unites to honor 13 fallen in Afghanistan
| WASHINGTON
It takes a lot to bring Democrats and Republicans together these days. But 13 fallen heroes did it on the eve of the anniversary of 9/11.
The occasion was the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal 鈥撀爐he highest award Congress gives 鈥� to 13 service members killed by a suicide bomber in the final days of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago.聽
Under the Capitol dome,聽family members of the 13 dabbed their eyes; others sat erect and resolute. A baby gurgled, a photographer dropped her lens cap, and the strains of the U.S. Army Brass Quintet echoed off the murals depicting seminal moments in American history.聽
Why We Wrote This
In our congressional correspondent鈥檚 four years of reporting on Capitol Hill, it鈥檚 been rare for her to see lawmakers resist opportunities for political digs. But on Tuesday in the Capitol Rotunda, they put bipartisan sparring aside to honor fallen service members.
The lawmakers demonstrated restraint, if not comity. They sat next to each other. They stood next to each other. They largely blamed terrorists instead of each other, though House Speaker Mike Johnson made an early, direct dig at the Biden-Harris administration.
Even if it was a brief, imperfect reprieve among members of Congress, it was a refreshing one.
The ceremony 鈥� attended by several top military and White House officials 鈥� took place against a backdrop of political fighting over who is to blame for the botched U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee released a this week excoriating the Biden-Harris administration for its lack of planning, transparency, and accountability, saying it undermined America鈥檚 standing in the world among both allies and adversaries. The report did not focus on the role of former President Donald Trump, who had agreed to withdrawal terms before President Joe Biden took office.
Despite that backdrop 鈥� a nation struggling with sharp political polarization and a consequential upcoming election 鈥� the ceremony itself was notably nonpolitical. Lawmakers exercised a discipline rare these days and focused on honoring those who, they said, 鈥渕ade the ultimate sacrifice鈥� in the name of U.S. ideals of freedom and democracy. They called on their fellow Americans to live lives worthy of that sacrifice.聽
鈥淪cripture teaches us that 鈥楪reater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,鈥欌�� said Mr. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican. 鈥淭oday we honor that very love鈥� 鈥� love embodied, he added, by 13 men and women of valor.聽
鈥淭heir names are etched in our hearts and now into the history of our nation,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd they are:
鈥淢arine Corps Staff Sgt. [Darin] Taylor Hoover.
鈥淢arine Corps Sgt. Johanny Pichardo.
鈥淢arine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee.
鈥淢arine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez.
鈥淢arine Corps Cpl. Daegan Paige.
鈥淢arine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez.
鈥淢arine Corps Lance Cpl. David Espinoza.
鈥淢arine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz.
鈥淢arine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum.
鈥淢arine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola.
鈥淢arine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui.
鈥淣avy Petty Officer 3rd Class Maxton Soviak.
鈥淎rmy Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss.鈥�
They were peacemakers, added Mr. Johnson鈥檚 Democratic counterpart, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. 鈥淏lessed are the peacemakers,鈥� he said.聽
Pageantry accentuated the solemn tone: the color guard, a brass quintet, the chaplains鈥� prayers, and a resonant bass singing 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner鈥� ricocheting around the Rotunda.
The costumes and props were of the 21st century. But it was, in fact, an age-old scene. People willing to fight for something larger than themselves. And when they fall, being lauded as inspirations rather than as failures.聽
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican who has served nearly 40 years as a Kentucky senator, highlighted something special about each of the 13. A contagious laugh. A thirst for life. A baby on the way.聽
Then Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, one of the two highest-ranking Democrats to meet with the families since the service members鈥� deaths in 2021, took the podium.
鈥淚t now falls on us, to all of us gathered here under the dome of Lady Liberty, to ensure the sacrifices of all our service members were not in vain,鈥� he said.聽
鈥淲e must care for them and their families,鈥� he continued, 鈥渁nd defend the values of freedom and democracy they so nobly fought for.鈥�
Toward the end, Corporal Sanchez鈥檚 mother, Coral Doolittle, spoke almost inaudibly at first, and then bolder and louder. 鈥淭heir love for this country was greater than the threat they faced from this enemy,鈥� she intoned.聽
鈥淐ontinue to sustain and comfort the families who have made incalculable sacrifices for freedom,鈥� said Senate Chaplain Barry Black, calling their sons and daughters heroes and heroines. 鈥淗elp us, mighty God, to go beyond words and medals 鈥� to live lives that truly honor David, Nicole, Darin, Ryan, Hunter, Rylee, Dylan, Kareem, Johanny, Humberto, Jared, Maxton, and Daegan.鈥�
