The Freedom 13 is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded by Mark and Jaclyn Schmitz in memory of their son, LCPL Jared M. Schmitz, USMC, and the 12 other American service members killed in the August 26, 2021 attack at Abbey Gate, Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan:

LCPL David L. Espinoza, USMC · SGT Nicole L. Gee, USMC · SSG Darin T. Hoover, USMC · SSG Ryan Christian Knauss, US Army · CPL Hunter Lopez, USMC · LCPL Dylan R. Merola · LCPL Kareem M. Nikoui, USMC · LCPL Rylee J. McCollum · CPL Daegan W-T Page, USMC · SGT Johanny Rosario Pichardo, USMC · CPL Humberto A. Sanchez · LCPL Jared M. Schmitz, USMC · HM3 Maxton W. Soviak, USN

"Jaclyn and I are so extremely proud of Jared, and the man, the Marine, he had become. And we miss him. Terribly. We created The Freedom 13 Organization to not only remember and honor our son and his 12 fellow American Heroes, but every American Hero that made the ultimate sacrifice," says founder Mark Schmitz.

The Freedom 13's mission is to build a Recreational Healing Camp in each of the 50 states — 13 homes per camp, one for every hero lost at Abbey Gate — where veterans, police officers, and Gold Star families can stay free of charge, reconnect, and access mental health resources including PTSD and suicide-prevention support. The first camp, 171 acres in Bourbon, Missouri, is already underway, with plans for 50 camps and over 32,000 families served annually once complete.