United States Senator Deb Fischer’s Weekly Column
There was a time when nearly every American knew someone who died in service to our country. Whether it was a family member, a friend, or a neighbor – Memorial Day was, and still is, deeply personal. These personal connections allowed Americans to fully grasp the magnitude of the sacrifices our service members and their families endured.
Every Memorial Day, we come together and pay tribute to the service members who died fighting for this country.
But we also must remember that the fallen heroes we honor are not distant figures or faceless statistics. They were mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and friends and neighbors. These brave service members sacrificed everything, not just for our national security, but to uphold our values of freedom and liberty.
Nebraska has borne its share of this sacrifice; we have lost thousands of service members over the years. From those who fought over a hundred years ago in World War I to most recently in the Afghanistan War – we mourn the loss of every service member who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
This Memorial Day, I am reminded of the sacrifices paid by countless heroes – including Omaha native U.S. Marine Corporal Daegan Page.
In August 2021, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan triggered a mass exodus, as Afghans and Americans desperately sought ways to flee Taliban rule. Among the few remaining routes out of the country was Abbey Gate, a key entryway to Kabul’s international airport.
Because of the quick collapse of the Afghan army, the United States was forced to hastily devise a plan to evacuate as many people as possible. In the final moments before Abbey Gate was sealed, a suicide bomber set off an explosive device that killed around 170 civilians and 13 U.S. troops. One of those was Cpl Page.
On Memorial Day, we honor fallen heroes like Cpl Page—heroes who dedicated their lives to serving our country and defending liberty at home and abroad.
We are privileged to live in a nation where so many willingly stand up to defend our freedoms, uphold our values, and protect not only our way of life but the liberties of those beyond our borders.
We are forever grateful to the generations of service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation and way of life.
Please join me in expressing our eternal gratitude to the brave men and women who came before us to serve our nation and laid down their lives for their fellow countrymen. Their memory will live forever in our hearts and minds, serving as a lasting model of duty, honor, and country for us all.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
