34 year retired Green Beret (87-21) with way more deployments than Rod to include being one of the first teams in Afghanistan in 2001. For 20 years I was involved in GWOT and at the tip of the spear. The design is horrible and is a complete disservice to everyone that put their lives on the line over there.
We dont need a monument dedicated to "healing". We need a monument worthy of our sacrifice and the warrior spirit that every other war memorial demonstrates. The weapons, the faces, the equipment, the uniforms, the environment.
We dont need a puddle that people can splash around in.
This is our legacy your messing with and the United States Government already pissed on our backs with what happened at the end of Afghanistan.
Explain that design to someone in 40 years and convince them that we were warriors.
It's a clear attempt to downgrade GWOT veterans to forgotten history.
We will not let you diminish our service.
Read the room. We aren't joking.