Congresswoman: “With the Signing of This Legislation, These Fallen Heroes Will Finally Receive the Recognition They Deserve for Their Courage, Sacrifice, and Service to our Country”

HENRICO, V.A. — President Joe Biden today signed into law bipartisan legislation which U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger cosponsored to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. military servicemembers who were killed during a deadly attack at the Kabul airport in August 2021.

This legislation will award the Congressional Gold Medal to Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan Page, Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, Cpl. David Lee Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Hospitalman Maxton Soviak, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss.

“With the signing of this legislation, these fallen heroes will finally receive the recognition they deserve for their courage, sacrifice, and service to our country,” said Spanberger. “During the rapidly changing situation on the ground in the final days of the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan, our servicemembers were on the front lines as they helped American citizens and our Afghan allies evacuate the country. Some of these men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice — and I am proud that these brave, selfless Americans will forever be honored for their service.”

Spanberger voted to pass the legislation in the U.S. House alongside Democrats and Republicans in October. The Congresswoman cosponsored the legislation in September, which was led by U.S. Representative Lisa McClain (R-MI-10).

“I’m glad these fallen servicemembers will finally receive the recognition they deserve for their bravery and sacrifice for our country,” said McClain. “Thank you to the 326 House members and 68 Senators who cosponsored this legislation and helped it quickly become law.”

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