Brantley Gilbert has quietly released a new song, “Gone But Not Forgotten,” honoring the 13 American soldiers who were killed outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

“13 brave American heroes made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom this week,” Gilbert posted along with the song. “In hard times like this, I always find myself turning to music. I wrote this song a while back as a tribute to all of the folks we’ve lost, both overseas and in our own communities here at home. Wanted to share it with y’all in hopes it might resonate with someone who needs to hear it right now.”

 

Gilbert has never been shy about his patriotism, which stems at least in part from having both his grandfather and uncles serve in the military

“Service men and service women are heroes and I believe the families they leave behind in order to serve are the unsung heroes,” Gilbert told We Are the Mighty. “They’re also making sacrifices to ensure our health and safety. I wanted to make sure they knew that we appreciate them just as much as we appreciate those in the uniform.”

Gilbert isn’t a stranger to hardships. Last December, the father of two celebrated nine years of sobriety, overcoming an addiction that at one time he thought was impossible to achieve. Gilbert, who has numerous tattoos on his body, credits the ink on his body with helping hm maintain his sobriety.

“The one on my left side is really the story of my life, and goes through my addiction and the tribulations and trials,” Gilbert previously said. “I got the devil trying to get on my shoulder over here, and I got two angels – I got one chubby angel with a spear keeping him from getting up here.

“It’s just little things like that that I remember the struggle every time I look at my arm,” he continued. “That’s one of the things, people ask me, ‘How are you staying sober?’ And honest to God, this has a lot to do with it. Every time I look down, I see flames and skulls and the fact that I put myself and everybody that works for me through hell.”