A moment from the past honoring the 13 would

Remember their names. Honor their sacrifice. Show up in service.

Each year, Simi Valley Elks Lodge #2492 joins the Simi Valley community for the 13 Souls Memorial Run, a powerful morning of remembrance honoring the 13 U.S. service members who lost their lives during the evacuation of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 26, 2021.

This year’s 13 Souls Run takes place Saturday, August 22, 2026, in Simi Valley—and there are many ways to be part of this meaningful day.

Registration and check-in begin at 5:30 a.m., followed by memorial ceremonies at 6:15 a.m. Participants begin the courses at approximately 7:00 a.m. With a 1K, 5K, 10K, and half-marathon, the event welcomes participants of different ages and abilities.

More Than a Race

For Simi Valley Elks Lodge #2492, participation in the 13 Souls Run has become an annual tradition of remembrance, camaraderie, and service.

Our Exalted Ruler and Leading Knight attend, and Lodge members are encouraged to get involved. Some volunteer at the Elks booth along the course, providing water, bananas, Elks swag, and encouragement to participants and spectators. Others honor the fallen by running, walking, or biking the route.

However they participate, our Elks are there for the same reason: to remember and to serve.

Before the race begins, the community gathers for a solemn memorial tribute. Photographs of the 13 fallen service members are displayed on the stage, bringing the focus of the morning back to the individuals whose sacrifice the event was created to honor.

On August 26, 2021, a suicide bombing during the evacuation in Kabul killed 13 U.S. service members, wounded other American service members, and claimed the lives of many Afghan civilians.

The 13 Souls Run was created to make certain those 13 Americans are not forgotten.

Turning Remembrance Into Service

The impact of the event continues beyond race day. In 2026, proceeds will benefit memorial and scholarship funds established by families of the fallen service members, as well as Vets & Valor, a nonprofit serving veterans throughout Ventura County and beyond.

Since 2023, Vets & Valor has helped veterans connect with resources and benefits earned through their military service. That mission creates a meaningful bridge between remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice and continuing to serve those who came home.

For Simi Valley Elks Lodge #2492, that connection is especially significant. Serving veterans is woven into the fabric of Elkdom, and the 13 Souls Run gives our members another opportunity to put that commitment into action.

Will You Join Us?

You don’t have to run a half-marathon to make a difference.

Run. Walk. Bike. Volunteer. Donate. Cheer someone across the finish line. Or simply stand with the community during the memorial ceremony and help ensure these 13 service members are remembered.

For the Simi Valley Elks, showing up means serving water, offering encouragement, wearing our Elks colors proudly, and standing beside veterans, military families, and our neighbors.

Simi Valley Elks Lodge #2492 is proud to remember, proud to serve, and proud to be part of the 13 Souls community.

Support the 2026 13 Souls Run

The 13 Souls Memorial Run is Saturday, August 22, 2026, in Simi Valley.

Registration & Check-In: 5:30 a.m.
Memorial Ceremonies: 6:15 a.m.
Courses Begin: Approximately 7:00 a.m.

Whether you’re participating in the event or supporting its mission from afar, you can help honor the 13 and continue their legacy through service.

Support the 13 Souls Run:

GiveSendGo.com/13soulsrun202