Light in the Shadows represents the contrast between loss and legacy. The tragedy at Abbey Gate is a shadow we will always carry, but within it lives the light of 13 extraordinary service members who gave everything for our country.

On August 26, 2026, the Mid America Veterans Museum will host a solemn and powerful ceremony entitled “Light in the Shadows” to mark the five-year anniversary of the bombing at Abbey Gate in Kabul, Afghanistan. This devastating attack claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and over 170 Afghan civilians during the final days of the U.S. withdrawal. We invite your business to stand with us in honoring their memory.

Light in the Shadows will be a moving tribute to courage, sacrifice, and resilience. The event will include a candlelight vigil, guest speakers, musical honors, and the rededication of the memorial on museum grounds. We are especially honored to host the Veterans and Athletes United’s (VAU) Fallen Heroes Memorial, a striking, veteran-built traveling tribute featuring over 7,000 engraved dog tags of service members lost since 9/11.

This ceremony will draw veterans, Gold Star families, community leaders, and citizens who wish to reflect, remember, and unite in gratitude. To help make this possible, we are seeking sponsors who believe in honoring service and preserving history.

Light in the Shadows - Fifth Anniversary of the Fallen 13 of Abbey Gate

Where Remembrance Becomes Legacy and Light Overcomes the Shadow