'We are honoring all': Northbrook American Legion honors final 13 killed in Afghanistan
Post Chaplain Tom Mahoney announced each of the 13 names, their rank and age.
Post Commander Jim Ossey, standing next to him, rang a brass bell after each individual was mentioned.
The others present in George W. Benjamin Post 791 of the American Legion stood at attention.
"We gather here tonight as military veterans to honor those 13 American heroes. They sacrificed their lives at the very end of the longest war in American history, 20 years," Mahoney said.
He noted nearly 2,500 United States service members have been killed in the war in Afghanistan and, surprisingly, more than 3,800 U.S. contractors.
The final toll included the 13 service personnel - 11 men and 2 women, ranging from 20 to 31 years old - who died in the Taliban's Aug. 26 attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul while executing the Operation Freedom Sentinel evacuation.
"We are honoring all tonight," Mahoney said.
"All those tragedies - 2,500 tragedies, 3,800 - these are the last 13 individual tragedies that occurred. These men and women died in the service of others. Over 120,000 men, women and children escaped Afghanistan in one of the largest airlifts of all time."
After each of the last 13 were recognized, the veterans at Post 791, 1354 Shermer Road, Northbrook, said a prayer and heard a recording of taps before beginning their weekly Tuesday night meeting.
The post is open to its 150 members daily, but meetings are held the first three Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m. Those seeking information may visit the post website, broccoli-pigeon-eftr.squarespace.com, or call (847) 564-9558.
A past post commander, Mahoney said the fourth Tuesday meeting is devoted to playing bingo at Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago.
Formed in 1937 in Northbrook, 18 years after the founding of the American Legion, the George W. Benjamin Post is named after a Deerfield soldier killed in France during World War I and also is affiliated with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10236.
"I think it was important that we marked the end of the war and honored all those that have served," Mahoney told the Herald after his task at the head of the room was finished.
The post is well-versed in community service. Mahoney said it sponsors baseball and hockey teams, Boys State and Girls State leadership and citizenship programs, is involved in Northbrook's Memorial Day Parade and Veterans Day remembrance, and other volunteer efforts.
"I would say that what we're most known for is our camaraderie," Mahoney said. "We're involved in the community and we're all from the community."
And they've all seen tours of duty. Ossey, for example, was an Army colonel with service in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. One member did two tours as a pilot in Vietnam, Mahoney said. Another was on the front line during the invasion of Kuwait.
"We have ranks from general on down. We're probably more Army than any other branch, but we have Army, Navy, Air Force and one Coast Guard," Mahoney said.
"You're amid heroes in this room."