Watch live: Hegseth honors Marines who served during 2021 Abbey Gate attack in Afghanistan

Five years after the Abbey Gate bombing, the event remains a deeply polarizing touchstone in American political discourse. For the families of the 13 fallen service members, the anniversary is a raw personal tragedy. For the nation, it is a painful reminder of the turbulent end to America's longest war, a period marked by chaotic scenes at Hamid Karzai International Airport that many believe were avoidable. Secretary Hegseth's appearance underscores the military's commitment to honoring its own, a sentiment that transcends partisan divides. However, the anniversary inevitably reignites fierce debate over the execution of the withdrawal, from the Doha Agreement to the intelligence failures preceding the attack. Some critics argue that the Biden administration bears responsibility for a poorly planned exit, while others point to decisions made by the previous administration that set the stage for the Taliban's rapid takeover. This is not a question of patriotism, but of accountability—a reckoning that has yet to produce a definitive, bipartisan conclusion. In the broader scope, the Abbey Gate anniversary forces a reflection on the human cost of foreign policy decisions. The 13 names read aloud at such ceremonies are more than statistics; they are fathers, sons, and brothers whose lives were cut short. As we honor their sacrifice, we must also ask whether the lessons of Afghanistan—regarding intelligence, interagency coordination, and the limits of military power—have truly been internalized by those who now shape American national security policy. The memory of Abbey Gate should serve as a unifying call to support our veterans and their families, regardless of how one views the strategic outcome. Yet, as the political cycle moves forward, the risk remains that this sacred ground becomes just another partisan cudgel. The true measure of our respect for the fallen lies not only in solemn ceremonies but in our willingness to engage in honest, non-ideological analysis of what went wrong—and what must never happen again.