August 26, 2022, marked the one-year anniversary of the attack in Kabul, Afghanistan that killed Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz along with 12 other service members and countless Afghans.
In honor of those fallen 13 service members, residents organized the Side by Side 13 tribute parade. That evening, the parade made a trip around the New Melle Town Square and then to the New Melle VFW and back.

Casse Trapp, New Melle 411 and the community were responsible for organizing and bringing this event together.

Freedom 13 is a non-profit organization started by Jared’s father and step-mother and is dedicated to helping veterans have a home and help for mental health as well. For more information or to make a donation, visit,www.thefreedom13.org.  Thank you to everyone who participated in honoring these fallen heroes.