By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Thirteen flags have been posted today on Hall Street in Hays in front of the Eagle Media Center to honor 13 American service personnel who died last week in Afghanistan after an attack on the Kabul airport.
The Kiwanis provided and placed the flags free of charge at the request of 26-year-old Hays resident Esteban Avitia.
The location was chosen because the Eagle property had enough space to display all 13 flags together.
Avitia is not a veteran. He said he is merely a patriotic citizen who said he wanted to remember the fallen service members.
"It just hit close to home. I love this country. People we don't even know are risking their lives every day," he said. "Thirteen of them, all pretty young, gave their lives to help people they didn't even know. ...
"It is hard to put into words. It almost felt like to me that I knew those service members. I just wanted to do something to pay tribute."
He continued "We are able to live the way we do in America because of people like that and the sacrifices they make."
The service members who died include 11 Marines, one Navy sailor who was assigned to a Marine Corps unit, and an Army Special Forces soldier.
The 11 Marines are Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California; 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. Also killed were Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee.
Editor's note: Eagle Radio owns and operates Hays Post.