Is it time for a 'War on Terror Memorial' in Washington DC?

SGM Matthew Quick — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 01:33:47 -0400

Is it time for the War on Terror sacrifices to be recognized by a memorial on the National Mall in our Nation's Capital?<br><br>BACKGROUND:  Currently, under the Commemorative Works Act of 1997, a war memorial cannot be authorized until at least 10 years after it officially ends.  The end dates of previous wars were easy to determine because the United States signed documents officially ending combat operations.<br><br>NOTE:  All combat troops are out of Iraq and the U.S. is planning the withdrawal of combat troops at the end of 2014.

Response by 1SG Shane Hansen made Apr 22 at 2014 2:29 AM

1SG Shane Hansen — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 02:29:24 -0400

If the plan is to include specific personnel and dates of battles, then start now with planning.  I would hate to think information and data may be lost over years of waiting.  There is no reason to wait on finding the land, planning a design, and getting all the permits and ducks in a row to start building. Not to mention fund raising to pay for it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2014 7:55 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 07:55:53 -0400

a bit early

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Apr 22 at 2014 8:08 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 08:08:05 -0400

We need time to reflect on the conflict as a whole, to place it in it's proper context, before building a memorial.  We should wait a few years after it's over, once tempers have cooled and the war drums have ceased their beating.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2014 8:29 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 08:29:22 -0400

Planning it seems like a good idea, but let's wait until the war is over to build it.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Apr 22 at 2014 8:54 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 08:54:04 -0400

This is a similar discussion, but I like that this one has the survey.  Some nice thoughts on this thread.  https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-will-be-our-vietnam-wall-memorial-for-oif-oef<div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="https://www.rallypoint.com/assets/fb_share_logo.png"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-will-be-our-vietnam-wall-memorial-for-oif-oef" target="_blank">RallyPoint | What will be our Vietnam Wall Memorial for OIF/OEF?</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">I love the wall in DC.&nbsp; Feels like you are walking on holy ground.&nbsp; I have seen numerous make shift, temporary, unit or event specific memorials for our fallen in these two wars.&nbsp; Is th...</div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Apr 22 at 2014 9:21 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 09:21:23 -0400

If planning on this means we can end the "War on Terror" then why not start now and begin to rebuild here at home?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2014 10:53 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 10:53:46 -0400

Start planning now but wait to build to get perspective.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Apr 22 at 2014 12:38 PM

SFC Stephen P. — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:38:20 -0400

If we are talking the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, then the 10 years should apply.

For the war on terror.... when is that scheduled to end?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Apr 22 at 2014 1:10 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:10:18 -0400

Here in Pittsburgh there is already talk about finding a spot along the Memorial Walkway which for those of you unfamiliar with the city is the walking path between PNC Park and Heinz Field. This one walk way includes memorials from Vietnam (one of the first in the nation); the Korean Conflict, a memorial to police officers killed in the line of duty and the newly finished WWII memorial.

One interesting topic that has come up in the initial planning of what a memorial for the "War on Terrorism" was should it just one memorial covering the whole period that we have been fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and all the other countries US Service Members; including the Special Operations Community have been working in or do we have 2 memorials?

Either way, the time to start planning is now. It will take time to find the funding, the location, and finalize an idea especially if we are looking at one to be posted in DC as the "National Memorial".

Response by SFC Craig Dalen made Apr 22 at 2014 1:30 PM

SFC Craig Dalen — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:30:03 -0400

It is still too soon. When the war is complete then would be the time to build it right the first time.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2014 1:46 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:46:00 -0400

By law, the war has to be defined as "Been over for some time" its not even officially over. So sadly we must wait

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2014 3:40 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 15:40:57 -0400

I think talking about it now is good how long did it take to get the wwII memorial done

Response by SSG Noah Grove made Jun 25 at 2014 10:56 AM

SSG Noah Grove — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 10:56:07 -0400

just an FYI, although not a "war on terror" memorial there is a "middle east conflicts" memorial in Marseilles, Illinois. http://www.middleeastconflictswallmemorial.us/

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2014 4:25 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 16:25:47 -0400

Not yet. I'd say let the dust settle first, then start a memorial.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Jun 25 at 2014 8:04 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 20:04:32 -0400

A memorial built to commemorate the sacrifices of life made in retaliation for the attacks on our unarmed civilian citizens and our military working in the Pentagon deserve one. The downside to building one at this point however, is that there is the potential for more sacrifices and loss of life in the future. Any memorial built needs to have dedicated ground available for expansion.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 25 at 2014 9:00 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 21:00:42 -0400

God only knows its time!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2014 11:20 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 23:20:59 -0400

I think we need to focus on finishing the conflicts first. And really the War on Terrorism will never end just like the War on Drugs. OEF is bigger than just Afghanistan. So where do we draw the line?

When is time to build a World War I memorial? We have waited way too long for that and have seen all of our veterans of that war die before they could be honored. Let's get that started first.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2014 8:06 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 08:06:22 -0400

I am slightly on the fence with this. It is easy to point to the beginning of the War on Terror. But will it ever actually end? I am not so sure. Should we plan something now? I say yes. But to start building now might be a bit hasty.

Response by CW2 Jonathan Kantor made Jun 26 at 2014 8:37 AM

CW2 Jonathan Kantor — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 08:37:08 -0400

No. The War on Terror was an idiotic catchphrase. The war on terrorism will end when the last human dies. There is no end of terrorism and to think so is naive.

Should we have a war memorial for those lost in OIF and OEF? Yes, of course. As we should do for any conflict. If the law states we have to wait for a decade since the conclusion of those conflicts, the dates are a bit sketchy, but we aren't anywhere near those deadlines. In the meantime, continue the fight, and never forget those we have lost.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jun 26 at 2014 9:03 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 09:03:32 -0400

Already is one and it was privately donated and completed a while back. It was done with all five services considered and has an annual rally to support it and raise funds. They have started a museum and add names annually during the rally.

http://www.middleeastconflictswallmemorial.us/

Response by SGT Wayne Woodward made Jun 26 at 2014 6:07 PM

SGT Wayne Woodward — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 18:07:20 -0400

WE need to eradicate barack hussein and all of his cronies and the likes of him. That means not allowing foolish, criminal and dangerous people near out White House. That's where a serious war is going on, right this moment. barack hussein needs to be escorted out in an orange jump suit, cuffs and chains and tossed into a gamma goat for the long trip to Ft. Leavenworth! Today! When we are free again then we can discuss memorials of Terror against Americans by barack hussein!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2014 8:21 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 20:21:53 -0400

It's already been proposed! ;)

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 29 at 2014 8:33 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 20:33:03 -0400

Start planning now but wait 10 years to build. I think it would be very appropriate.

Response by SFC Melker Johansson made Nov 7 at 2014 9:59 AM

SFC Melker Johansson — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 09:59:57 -0500

I would rather them build a proper Word War I Memorial first.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Mar 22 at 2015 12:04 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 12:04:08 -0400

I think there should be co-located monuments for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it should not be called "War on Terror." I don't think you can have a monument, let alone a war, against a tactic which has been around since the beginning of human history and will remain with us until the end of human history.

I also think we need a few more years to see what actually happens in Iraq and Afghanistan, to have better context for how the monument would be perceived.

Response by SFC Charles S. made Mar 22 at 2015 12:19 PM

SFC Charles S. — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 12:19:34 -0400

Yes, I believe there should be a monument to each Major Combat Action that involved a Large number of american service members. It's important to commemorate their service. Even if not for them for their loved ones that need a place to go to grieve.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Aug 8 at 2015 12:18 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 12:18:38 -0400

How do you make a monument to a never ending war?

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Aug 8 at 2015 12:19 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 12:19:42 -0400

A monument to an endless war?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2015 5:20 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 17:20:23 -0400

I think we need to end the GWOT first. I think it is a little early to throw up a monument just yet.

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Aug 8 at 2015 6:36 PM

SSG Todd Halverson — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 18:36:44 -0400

To call it a War on Terror Memorial is an improper name. OEF / OIF are not the only parts of the war ob terror. Now if they were to call it an OEF/ OIF War Memorial and wait the mandated ten years I would support that. Once there is an official end date to those wars, then the "proverbial" clock starts ticking.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Jul 17 at 2017 1:31 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 13:31:23 -0400

Hmm this was posted in 2014 - and we are still in Afghanistan and back in Iraq and also in Syria since 2014. Perhaps wait until we see if these conflicts ever end first.