Gold Star Families and the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation Receive Bipartisan Support
In 2015, the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Foundation was formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation by a group of veterans, military spouses, and patriots to honor the service and sacrifice of all who served in the Global War on Terrorism. Today, the dream of the GWOT Memorial Foundation and our nation’s Gold Star families became reality when President Joe Biden signed into law S.535, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act, authorizing the construction of a memorial in the Reserve area of the National Mall. The memorial will honor all who have served and sacrificed in the ongoing international military campaign launched by the U.S. government following the September 11th attacks in an effort to defeat terrorists intending to harm our country and its citizens.
The Foundation’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Ted Skokos stated, “Our deepest gratitude goes to all the supporters who worked alongside us to advocate for a memorial on the National Mall. We are thankful for the bipartisan support of Congress and that of President Biden. We could not have gotten to this point without the help of our allies on Capitol Hill who have been steadfastly committed to providing a place where Americans can learn, heal, and reflect. Among our many bipartisan supporters, Sen. Joni Ernst, Sen. Maggie Hassan, Rep. Jason Crow, and Rep. Mike Gallagher were instrumental in championing our cause and securing passage of this legislation. We’ve also been blessed to have the support of 35 veterans service organizations and countless other non-veteran supporters. In addition, we are in debt to the powerful voices of Gold Star families who have urged that their fallen loved ones be recognized and honored for their selfless willingness to sacrifice all for their country.”
“Our hearts are truly warmed knowing that Bryan’s sacrifice for family, country, and freedom will be memorialized in this tribute at our nation’s capital,” said Gold Star parents Terry and Beth Burgess, and Bryan’s widow Tiffany Burgess. “We’re sure that every Gold Star family from the Global War on Terrorism would agree that this Memorial is going to be a treasured place to gather in the spirit of turning grief into honor. Our deepest appreciation to everyone involved in the years of preparation and passion for this Memorial!”
“Today we rejoice in this monumental victory, but we also know that there is still a long road ahead before we cut the ribbon on a memorial,” said GWOT Memorial Foundation Vice-Chair Ken Hersh. “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. 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. 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.”
Who We Are
The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation leads the effort to plan, fund, design, and build the National GWOT Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Memorial will be entirely funded by donations; no government funding will be used. All donations are 100% tax-deductible. Learn more: https://www.gwotmemorialfoundation.org/about/
