Explore
Our Initial
Design Concept
This significant milestone brings the Nation one step closer to honoring our Gold Star families, uniformed and non-uniformed service members, veterans and communities who have borne the cost of this defining chapter in American history.
This is a living Memorial to an ongoing war —
a place to gather, to heal, to connect, and to remember.
A sacred place of honor.
The Embrace
Reclaimed war steel, covered by living vegetation, arches over the earth in the form of an embrace. Light filters through, casting shadows that reveal stories, memories, and moments of connection – even in the darkest places.
The Path
The Memorial begins with a Path of Honor, a symbol of endurance and freedom that connects this site to the National Mall. At each entrance, sacred relics of steel and stone from September 11, 2001 mark where the journey began.
The Footprints
of Generations
Pressed into the surface of the path are footprints. These impressions carry the weight of war and the lived experience of warriors, their families, and the communities who held them. Visitors can walk among them, step by step, joining a procession that stretches back across two decades.
The Reflection Pool
A shallow reflecting pool invites visitors in. As they walk through, their footprints join those imprinted on the path – a quiet act of reconnection with those they love and have lost.
A Sacred
Space
The Memorial scale in context
The Memorial will stand on a prominent site in the Reserve of the National Mall — steps from the Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The embrace is oriented to align directly with Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, the resting place of many of the Global War on Terrorism’s fallen. This deliberate axis links the living city with sacred ground, forming a bridge between civilian and military lives, and between the present moment and those it honors.
The Inspiration
Building on the data the Foundation began collecting in 2018 we launched the “Help Design History” campaign—a first-of-its-kind public input initiative in 2023. The insights and experiences of Americans from every U.S. state and veterans from every conflict dating back to WWII became the foundation for the Memorial’s design.
Nearly
participants shared
their vision
were Global War on Terrorism veterans or service members
80% asked the Memorial reflect the global impact of the war
60% wanted green space
50% hoped to include water
Lead designer Kengo Kuma, named by Time magazine in 2021 as one of the world’s “100 Most Influential People,” led the project with his team at Kengo Kuma & Associates. They worked closely with the Foundation’s Design Team, including the Board of Directors and the Design Advisory Council, a body consisting of more than 20 Gold Star family members, veterans, and active-duty service members, who came together to inspire, educate, and advise on the importance of the Memorial. After listening to more than 30 hours of stories from the Design Team key themes emerged that began to give shape to the design.
“Across every culture and century, we see a common truth: societies honor their warriors not by forgetting war, but by remembering it together. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial will carry forward this timeless tradition. It will be a place to Honor, to Heal, to Empower, and to Unite not just for those who served, but for our entire nation.”
Michael “Rod” Rodríguez, President and CEO
Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation
Next
Steps
In the months ahead, the Foundation will meet with the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (NCMAC), the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) to achieve concept approval. Upon which the Foundation will move into the detailed schematic phases for approval with the goal of a 2027 groundbreaking.
With strong bipartisan support, a Federally defined roadmap, and an unwavering commitment to its mission, the Foundation is on track to complete this historic project by the end of 2028. You can review the complete 24 Step Process for Establishing the Memorial here.
JOIN US.
Be a part of building a place of remembrance for future generations. Whether you donate, participate in a Ruck, or share our mission — your involvement helps bring this Memorial to life.