VFW keeps a table for fallen soldiers

Just inside the front door of the Cloquet VFW sits a table with 13 glasses, reserved for 13 U.S. service members who will never arrive. All 13 died Aug. 26, outside the Kabul airport in Afghanistan, as the result of a suicide bombing attack during

evacuations there.

"Reserved," proclaims a framed sign in the center of the round table. "In honor of the 13 heroes who served, fighting for our freedom, and won't be coming home. Freedom is not free."

The military branch and rank, name, age and hometown, along with a photo of each service member is taped to the upside-down beer glasses that sit on coasters on the tiny round table at the post. Eleven

marines, one Navy corpsman and one soldier died Thursday, along with at least 170 civilians, mostly Afghanistan natives trying to leave the country after it was overtaken by the Taliban

on Aug. 15.