A Veteran And A Gold Star Father On Evacuating Afghan Allies

16:02

August 19, 2021

Jamie Bologna, Steven Gelman

U.S soldiers stand guard along a perimeter at the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. On Monday, the U.S. military and officials focus was on Kabul’s airport, where thousands of Afghans trapped by the sudden Taliban takeover rushed the tarmac and clung to U.S. military planes deployed to fly out staffers of the U.S. Embassy, which shut down Sunday, and others. (Shekib Rahmani/AP)

Earlier this week, a group of 70 Massachusetts lawmakers came together to write a letter urging the federal delegation to ensure the safe evacuations of Afghan allies.

Joining us today are two lawmakers from that group. State Senator John Velis, and a signatory of the letter, and State Representative Steve Xiarhos, one of the letter's authors. Senator Velis is a veteran of the United States Military and served in Afghanistan. He was deployed there in the summer of 2018. State Representative Steve Xiarhos is a Gold Star Father, in honor of his oldest son Nicholas, who died at age 21 on the battlefield in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom on July 23, 2009.

This segment aired on August 19, 2021.