Gold Medal Bill Honors 7 Citizens Who Evacuated 17,000 People from Afghanistan in 2021

This legislation, the "Save our Allies Congressional Gold Medal Act," is straightforward: it recognizes the extraordinary, high-stakes efforts of a small group of private citizens and veterans during and immediately following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. The bill authorizes Congress to award a single Congressional Gold Medal to seven specific individuals—Chad Robichaux, Sarah Verardo, Tim Kennedy, Kevin Rourke, Sean Gabler, Dave Johnson, and Dennis Price—for their selfless actions that resulted in the safe evacuation of over 17,000 people from Taliban-controlled areas.

The Real-World Impact: Recognizing Unofficial Heroes

This isn't about changing regulations or setting new taxes; it’s about formally recognizing a massive, high-risk operation led by veterans and private citizens when the official evacuation was winding down. The findings section of the bill reads like an action movie script, detailing how this team, including Special Operations veterans, mobilized to rescue a combat interpreter and then expanded their mission. They ran operations inside the Taliban-controlled Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) and, later, established covert evacuation routes for vulnerable populations like women and children, often dodging enemy forces near the Tajikistan border. For the average person, this bill is a reminder that sometimes the biggest, most impactful actions come from individuals stepping up outside of government channels.

Where the Medal Goes Next

Once the medal is presented to the recipients, the bill requires it to be transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. This ensures the medal is permanently preserved and available for display and research. Think of it as ensuring this chapter of American heroism is properly archived and accessible to future generations. The bill also includes a specific request from Congress that the Smithsonian make the medal available for display outside of Washington D.C. periodically, particularly at locations connected to the Special Operation Veterans team involved in the 2021 effort. This means the medal could potentially tour, bringing the story of their heroism closer to communities across the country.

The Business of Bronze Duplicates

Section 4 includes a practical, administrative detail that ensures this honor doesn't become a financial burden on the taxpayer. It authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to create and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal. The key requirement is that the selling price must cover all associated costs—labor, materials, dies, machinery, and overhead. All revenue generated from these bronze sales goes right back into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, the same fund used to cover the initial costs of making the medal. In short, the government can honor these heroes without incurring production costs, using collectible sales to make the process self-funding. It’s a clean, administrative approach to a major national honor.