To the Commission,
As a Gold Star spouse, I am grateful that our nation is finally building a memorial to honor those who served and sacrificed during the Global War on Terrorism. This generation answered the call after September 11th and carried the burden of nearly two decades of war. Their service deserves to be remembered.
That said, I have serious concerns about the proposed design.
When I look at the concept images, I see an abstract landscape. I see architecture, symbolism, and reflection spaces. What I do not see are the men and women who fought these wars or the names of those who never came home.
My husband, SSG Alan Shaw, was killed in Iraq in 2007. He was 31 years old. He had a name. He had a family. He had children who grew up without their father. Like thousands of others, his sacrifice was not abstract.
Nothing about the current design makes me want to take my grandchildren there to learn about their grandfather and the sacrifices made by him and thousands of others. A national memorial should do more than inspire reflection. It should teach. It should tell a story. It should ensure that future generations understand who served, who sacrificed, and what was lost.
The men and women we lost were not concepts. They were individuals with dreams, families, and futures that ended in service to this country. I believe names matter because names force us to confront the true cost of war. They transform statistics into people.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial remains one of the most powerful memorials in our nation because visitors are immediately confronted with the scale of the sacrifice through the names of the fallen. The names are not a design element. They are the memorial.
I am not opposed to symbolism or artistic expression, but I believe the Global War on Terrorism Memorial should provide direct recognition of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. If someone visits this memorial fifty years from now, they should not have to guess who it was built to honor. The memorial itself should tell that story clearly and unapologetically.
The combat fallen deserve more than an abstract representation of their sacrifice. They deserve to be remembered by name.
Respectfully,
Sharrell Shaw
Gold Star Spouse
Concerned citizens can respectfully contact the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts staff about the initial GWOT Memorial design concept on the National Mall.
Email cfastaff@cfa.gov with brief, design-focused comments on elements like compatibility with the historic Mall setting, landscape features, and how clearly the memorial conveys lasting national significance per the Commemorative Works Act.
Sample message you can adapt:
“As a [veteran / Gold Star family member / constituent], I support honoring GWOT service members and families with a national memorial. However, the abstract symbolic design with vegetation-covered arches and reflection elements raises concerns that it may not provide sufficient direct recognition of individual sacrifice or fully align with criteria for surroundings relevant to the subject. I respectfully ask the Commission to consider revisions during concept review that strengthen commemoration while complementing nearby memorials. Thank you for your important work.”
Personalize with your own perspective and send soon—concept reviews are upcoming. Your thoughtful input helps shape a fitting memorial.
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