Global War on Terror (GWOT) Memorial Foundation Hosting Historic Roundtable Event with Service Members, Families at Fort Bragg 

FORT BRAGG, N.C., January 29, 2019 – The Global War on Terror (GWOT) Memorial Foundation, the congressionally-designated non-profit foundation tasked with organizing, fundraising and coordinating efforts to build a new memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is hosting a historic roundtable event at Fort Bragg from Feb. 5-7. As the first command-supported focus group of its kind, the event will provide a forum for nearly 50 active-duty service members and their families to share their thoughts on the design and themes for a new national memorial honoring GWOT veterans, their families and all those who support our nation’s longest war. 

Winstanley Architects & Planners (WA&P), the GWOT Memorial Foundation’s executive architect, will facilitate a series of small group discussions with the volunteer participants about what the memorial should represent, the feelings it should evoke and the educational elements it should convey. 

“This conflict is filled with a collection of unique experiences by Americans across multiple generations and diverse backgrounds, and it is imperative that we seek out and listen to the voices of our country to ensure the memorial truly reflects the American people,” said Michael “Rod” Rodriguez, president and CEO of the GWOT Memorial Foundation. “The goal of this memorial is to not only honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but to shed light on the selfless service, strength and resiliency of those who continue to serve in this ongoing conflict.” 

WA&P is managing and overseeing the 24-step process required by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (NCMAC) to design and build the memorial in Washington, D.C. They have surveyed several other groups around the country and will summarize their findings in a final report in the next few months. 

“This is an exciting time for the memorial’s development. The very essence of what this memorial should be both physically and in its content is emerging from these interviews. We have about half of our target interviews completed to date, and some of the sessions have been quite emotional but also very rewarding for all,” said Michael Winstanley AIA AICP, Founding Principal of WA&P. 

Over the months ahead, the GWOT Memorial Foundation is focused on developing a program to be used in discussions with relevant agencies to determine the best location for the memorial. Once a site is selected and approved, the GWOT Memorial Foundation will oversee an invited memorial design competition which captures the themes discovered, including those of endurance and sacrifice on a global and multi-cultural scale in America’s longest war. 

To learn more about the GWOT Memorial Foundation or to donate, visit gwotmf.org or follow the foundation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. 

About Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation 
The Global War on Terror (GWOT) Memorial Foundation is the congressionally-designated nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide the organizing, fundraising and coordinating efforts to build a memorial on the National Mall in Washington D.C. to honor our fallen warriors, United States services members, their families and all those who have served in our nation’s longest war. Through its dedicated efforts, the Foundation seeks to build a tangible symbol of the sacrifices made by our country’s service members and their families. The Foundation is a platinum-level GuideStar participant, demonstrating its commitment to transparency. 

Since Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3 million Americans have deployed in support of the GWOT. Of those service members, close to 8,500 have been killed, with 52,000 wounded in action and an estimated 20 percent of veterans returning home grappling with the invisible wounds of war such as posttraumatic stress (PTS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The GWOT Memorial Foundation believes that our service members, their families and the American people deserve a fitting memorial where our country can learn about, reflect and honor their endurance and sacrifice. To learn more or donate, visit gwotmf.org or follow the Foundation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. 

###