America’s Global War on Terrorism service members will get a memorial on the National Mall.
President Joe Biden signed the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act, which authorizes the construction of the memorial in the Reserve area of the National Mall, late in December.
“As we begin a more in-depth process of evaluating potential locations, and all that process entails, we look forward to working closely with the National Park Service and other authorities and stakeholders,” said Global War On Terrorism Memorial Foundation Vice-Chair Ken Hersh. “Our goal is to create an inclusive and enduring place of honor for all who served and were impacted by this conflict, whether in uniform or otherwise.”
Related
The Reserve area of the National Mall is currently home to the World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial.
The U.S. House of Representatives last September passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 which included language from the bipartisan Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act that was introduced by GWOT veterans Reps. Jason Crow (D-C0) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI).
Related
On the Senate side, Iraq veteran Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) championed the cause.
"This memorial will be a place of healing for so many who served, or had loved ones who served, in our nation's longest war,” said Ernst in a statement.
In 2017, then-President Barack Obama signed into law legislation authorizing the GWOT Foundation to establish, with private funds, a National Global War on Terrorism Memorial on federal land in the District of Columbia in order to commemorate and honor the men and women who have served in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
Before the monument can be built, its design and construction must receive approval from the National Planning Commission, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Park Service, among others.
“Since this memorial will not be built with any government funding, we will continue to depend on the generosity and support of Americans who share our commitment to the cause,” said Hersh.
The project is expected to cost about $50 million. The GWOT Foundation is required to come up with at least 75% of the cost.
The GWOT Foundation recently released a survey in which 42% of respondents, including 55% of those 18-24 years old, said they didn’t know anyone who had served in the Global War on Terrorism.
To learn more about the GWOT Foundation, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com