Micah 7:8 says, “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.”
The Crossroads Chronicle would like to thank Berni’s on West Main for this touching tribute to the 13 American heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Those 13 service members are:
• from the Marine Corps, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts;
• Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California;
• Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah;
• Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California;
• Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska;
• Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana;
• Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas;
• Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri;
• Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming;
• Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California;
• and Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California;
• from the Navy, Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio;
• and from the Army, Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee.
We feel this verse from the book of Micah speaks for them.
According to The Washington Post, a suicide bomber detonated explosives on August 26 at a Kabul airport gate where U.S. troops were searching evacuees rushing to depart the country. At least 18 other troops were wounded in the bombing that killed at least 170 people as well as the aforementioned 13 U.S. service members.
The attack was the single deadliest enemy strike against U.S. forces in Afghanistan since August 2011 when militants shot down a Chinook helicopter, killing 30 U.S. troops on board.