Committee Hears Testimony to Designate Aug. 26 as 'Abbey Gate Remembrance Day'

A sponsor of Senate Bill 244 told the House Veterans and Military Development Committee that the bill would designate Aug. 26 as Abbey Gate Remembrance Day to honor civilians and U.S. service members killed in the August 26, 2021 terrorist attack at Abbey Gate, Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The sponsor recounted the evacuation at the Kabul airport as U.S. forces screened documents at a perimeter checkpoint known as Abbey Gate when an Islamic State K. attacker detonated an explosive belt. Testimony in committee said 169 Afghan civilians died, more than 150 were injured and 13 U.S. service members lost their lives. The sponsor read the names of the 13 service members into the record and urged the committee to recognize their sacrifice.

The bill’s sponsor described local advocacy by veterans and family members, including Joe Burdick, who pledged to keep the memory of the fallen alive for their families. Representative Gamari thanked the sponsor, described a personal connection to the funeral for one of those killed and offered to work with the sponsors on an amendment to specify branches of service in the bill language for clarity. The senators who presented the bill agreed to accept that amendment.

There was no vote during the committee hearing. The chair closed the first hearing on Senate Bill 244 after the sponsor and committee members exchanged remarks and acknowledged the bill’s unanimous recent passage in a Senate committee and on the Senate floor, as noted in testimony.