Legislative History
U.S. Marine Corps GWOT veterans and founding members of the bipartisan For Country Caucus of military veterans in the U.S. House, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) introduce the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Act (H.R. 873) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill calls for the establishment of a Memorial on federal land in Washington, D.C. It also designates the Foundation as the entity authorized to plan, fund, and build said Memorial.
Qualitative and quantitative feedback from Gold Star families, active duty service members, veterans and veteran family members, faith leaders, and non-military citizens leads the Foundation to seek an exemption to build the Memorial specifically within the Reserve area of the National Mall.
Concurrent with Veterans Day, GWOT Veterans Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) and Rep. Gallagher (R-WI) introduce the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act (H.R. 5046) in the House of Representatives. Working alongside With Honor Action, the For Country Caucus endorses the legislation. The legislation specifically seeks authorization for the construction of a Memorial in the Reserve area of the National Mall. Although momentum stalls on the bill’s progress, the issue gains prominence in Congress.
The Foundation joins seven leading military and veterans service organizations to brief Congress on the importance of passing the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act.
The Foundation launches a grassroots fundraising campaign with a goal of $100 million.
Sen. Ernst (R-IA) and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduce the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act (S.535) in the Senate.
MISSION BBQ becomes the first member of the Foundation’s Servant Leadership Council with a donation of more than $1.4 million.
Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC Fund) presents the Foundation with a $25,000 donation.
The Foundation holds its inaugural “Ruck the Reserve” event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. with the Secretary of the V.A. Dennis McDonough, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Gold Star families, GWOT Veterans, families, and supporters.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation donates $1 million to the Foundation.
MISSION BBQ makes a new donation of $1,440,000. This is the second year in a row that MISSION BBQ has contributed more than $1 million to the Foundation.
A major milestone in the site selection process! The Foundation received permission from the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (NCMAC) to proceed with consultations with the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) regarding proposed sites for a national Global War on Terrorism Memorial.
The Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) has approved Site A! Click to view site location. The location near the Lincoln Memorial gains favor as a potential Memorial location. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial is closer to becoming a reality with each passing day.
The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) authorizes the Foundation to embark on a design for a Memorial for Site A, moving the Foundation into steps 13-19 of the 24-step Memorial construction process after being in steps 9-12 since August of 2017.
