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Thirteen service members died at Abbey Gate, and the country barely blinked before the headlines changed. That silence is what Navy veteran, entrepreneur, and wooden flag craftsman Joe Burdick could not accept, so he turned remembrance into something tangible, public, and permanent.

We talk about the Abbey Gate bombing during the Kabul evacuation and why it still hits so hard for Global War on Terror veterans who understand the true cost of service. Joe walks me through his own Navy aviation story, the disorienting shift from military purpose to civilian uncertainty, and how building handmade wooden American flags became a bridge back to service. What began as craftsmanship and community support grew into something much bigger once he met Gold Star families, including the family of Max Soviak, the only one of the 13 from Ohio.

From there, the conversation becomes a blueprint for civic action and veteran advocacy. Joe explains how he organized a local Abbey Gate Remembrance Day in Seven Hills, partnered with state lawmakers, testified, and helped pass Ohio Senate Bill 244 to honor all 13 fallen by name. We also dig into what this kind of remembrance can look like in schools and communities, why the national effort still matters, and the simple steps listeners can take to push similar legislation in their own states.

If you believe “never forget” has to mean more than a post, listen, share this with someone who cares about military service and Gold Star families, and subscribe and leave a review so more people find these stories.

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