The Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club has placed memorial wreaths at Veterans Serenity Park in downtown Oswego in honor of the 13 U.S. Servicemen who were killed by a suicide bomber attack at the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan, Aug. 26.
The wreaths are located at the entrance to the memorial in the park, which is located along the east bank of the Fox River. The park is bordered to the east by North Adams Street.
A total of 11 Marines, one Army soldier and one member of the Navy were killed in the attack.
The service members who died were:
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah
Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California
Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California
Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska
Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California
Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee.
In a statement issued two days after the attack, President Joe Biden called the Americans who lost their lives “heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our highest American ideals and while saving the lives of others.”
“Their bravery and selflessness has enabled more than 117,000 people at risk to reach safety thus far,” Biden said. “May God protect our troops and all those standing watch in these dangerous days.”