President Trump Approves A Global War On Terrorism Memorial To Be Built In Washington DC

© REUTERS/ Jonathan Ernst

Washington Times: Trump signs legislation greenlighting War on Terrorism memorial for National Mall

President Trump has signed a bill authorizing the construction of a new memorial on the National Mall commemorating U.S. service members who fought in the international war against terrorism.

Mr. Trump announced his signing of the Global War on Terrorism War Memorial Act through his official Twitter account Friday evening, paving the way for the monument’s sponsors to ramp-up work on erecting one of the nation’s capital’s newest memorials.

The Global War on Terrorism, also known as the GWOT and the War on Terror, refers to the international military campaign initiated by President George W. Bush in reaction to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, including ongoing operations against targets including the Taliban, Al Qaeda and Islamic State.

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More News On President Trump Approving A Global War On Terrorism Memorial To Be Built In Washington DC

Trump Approves Global War On Terrorism Memorial in DC -- Military.com
Trump signs bill authorizing memorial to service members who fought in war on terror -- ABC News
Trump signs bill authorizing 'Global War on Terrorism Memorial' -- Los Angeles Times
Trump Authorizes Construction of Global War on Terrorism Memorial -- Sputnik
War on Terrorism Memorial will honor veterans of America's longest conflict -- The Intelligencer

The Man Behind The Building Of The Vietnam Memorial Wants To Honor This Generation's Fallen

Military Times: ‘The Wall’ is turning 35, and the man behind it wants to honor this generation’s fallen

On Sunday, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will host a ceremony to commemorate the 35th anniversary of its historic groundbreaking. The idea for a memorial engraved with names of the fallen flowed from my academic research and from testimony before the Senate on what is now called post-traumatic stress, a common reaction to witnessing violence.

The memorial was planned as a societal acknowledgement of those who served, funded by the American people. I started the effort in 1979 while a GS-7 at the Labor Department, thanks to the permission of my wife. This was nonstop work, day after day.

In 1982, the money was in hand, as was a permit to begin construction. The effort barely succeeded. I hope the lessons learned can ease the path to success for a Global War on Terrorism Memorial that will honor a new generation of service members.

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WNU Editor: They even have a name for it .... The Global War on Terrorism Memorial.

A Monument On The National Mall For Afghan And Iraq Vets?

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Building A D.C. Memorial For An Endless War Bumps Into Regulations -- Washington Times

Afghanistan, Iraq vets seek Mall recognition

Veterans of the war on terrorism say they deserve a monument in downtown Washington to recognize their sacrifices, but they are hindered by a rule that says a conflict must be long finished in order to build a memorial, leading some to wonder how to commemorate a “never-ending war.”

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America wants a location by the end of 2015 for a monument to those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, the major battlefields of the war on terrorism.

The fighting has wound down as the war stretches into its 12th year, but veterans are struggling to define an end date.

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My Comment: One day they will build a monument ....but not on the National Mall.

The destruction Of Britain's War Memorials

Toppled after 90 years: Vicar Kevin Scott at The Old Malden monument, in Surrey, after thieves pushed it the ground to steal a strip of lead worth £5

Sacred Memories Sold As Scrap: Clampdown On Dealers Who Encourage Pillage Of War Memorials, Demand Police -- Daily Mail

Campaigners fighting to save war memorials from scrap metal thieves say only a handful have ever been brought to justice.

Tragically, the War Memorials Trust also revealed that only one in ten of the stolen plaques and statues are ever recovered.

Frances Moreton, director of the trust, said the rest end up being melted down by unscrupulous scrap metal dealers making a fast buck out of Britain’s fallen heroes.

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My Comment: I do not live in Britain, but to me it is easy to solve and stop this problem .... change the laws to make the punishment more severe, and to change the regulations for scrap dealers in accepting scrap metal that is obviously not scrap metal. But .... it appears .... changing laws and regs are not easy in Britain.

Will There Be An Iraq/Afghanistan War Memorial?

U.S. Marines depart a checkpoint and patrol back to Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afghanistan, May 30, 2010. The Marines are assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mark Fayloga

What Will Our Iraq War Memorial Look Like? -- Washington Post

I recently came across an old editorial about American soldiers caught in a seemingly unending war abroad. “Had there been any honorable way of retreat open to us,” the piece argued, “we should have availed ourselves of it as soon as the facts of the situation became apparent. But as there was no such means of escape, we stayed there, and our tenure has been very costly in life and money.”

So wrote the editors of The Washington Post, not about the war in Iraq or Afghanistan or even Vietnam, but about the U.S. occupation of the Philippines more than a century ago. When the editorial appeared in 1906, the occupation had been dragging on for almost eight years since the United States declared victory over Spain in the war of 1898. Eventually 5,000 U.S. soldiers (and at least 250,000 Filipinos) died in a long and brutal counterinsurgency campaign.

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My Comment: Millions of images and photos have been taken in Iraq and Afghanistan .... but the above photo captures for me what the war has been all about, and one in which I hope that any future memorial will incorporate.

The Iwo Jima Memorial Needs Some Repairs

WEATHER-BEATEN: The faces of the Marines on the Iwo Jima war memorial in Arlington, Va., show the problems that the elements have caused over the years. Funds are being raised to make improvements to the monument, including a museum-grade cleaning and wax sealing. (Rod Lamkey Jr./Special to The Washington Times)

Iwo Jima Memorial Needs Rescue Mission -- Washington Times

'Friends' raise cash for repairs.

Time and weather have conspired to etch cracks in its structure. The bronze patina that once shone a proud Marine Corps green has dulled to a dingy brown. Water damage has pried loose polished granite panels, and puddles gather at the base. In all — hardly the spit-and-polish shape one expects for a memorial to the most gung-ho branch of the military.

That's no way to treat a monument honoring the vaunted tradition of the few and the proud, say members of the Marine Corps War Memorial Foundation, who are marshaling supporters for a face-lift on the iconic Iwo Jima war memorial in Arlington, Va.

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My Comment: Soldiers and their memorials always fade away with time .... the Iwo Jima memorial is no exception.