California Lawmakers to Honor Fallen U.S. Service Members from Afghanistan Withdrawal
In an exclusive event set to take place at the California State Capitol, a group of California lawmakers will honor four of the 13 U.S. service members who tragically lost their lives during the Biden administration’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
Republican Assemblyman Bill Essayli, who led the initiative, will pay tribute to Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, one of the fallen heroes who perished in a suicide bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport during the evacuation, which also claimed the lives of at least 180 civilians.
The ceremony will focus on honoring the four service members who hailed from California, with Essayli expressing his inspiration from Gold Star father Herman Lopez’s emotional speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention about his son, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, who also lost his life in the same tragic event.
Essayli shared in an interview with Fox News Digital that the lack of recognition for these fallen soldiers prompted him to organize the ceremony at the California Capitol, inviting the families of the fallen service members to be honored on the legislative floor.
During the event, memorial resolutions will be presented to each Gold Star family, followed by speeches from members representing the respective districts of the fallen service members.
Steve Nikoui, the father of Kareem Nikoui, who will be present at the ceremony, expressed the immense pain and hardship his family has endured in the aftermath of losing his son, with the added tragedy of his other son taking his own life a year later.
Nikoui criticized the Biden administration for failing to acknowledge the sacrifices made by the fallen service members and for withholding the truth from the American people regarding the events surrounding the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The ceremony holds a significant emotional weight for the families of the fallen service members, as they continue to seek closure and recognition for their loved ones’ ultimate sacrifice.
Essayli also took the opportunity to highlight the importance of honoring veterans and the need for strong leadership in times of conflict, emphasizing the upcoming election as a choice between former President Trump, who he credited with avoiding new wars, and Vice President Harris, representing the legacy of the Biden administration.
The event aims to shed light on the sacrifices made by these brave service members and to honor their memory, serving as a reminder of the profound impact of their service and the importance of recognizing their contributions to the nation.
