Building a Memorial on the National Mall: Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation Launches Legislative Initiative During Republican and Democratic National Conventions

PITTSBURGH, July 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation will formally launch its legislative initiative to construct a memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. with events held during both the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, July 17 and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, July 26. The mission of the Global War on Terror (GWOT) Memorial Foundation is to provide the organizing, fundraising, and coordinating efforts to build a national memorial to honor our fallen warriors, US services members, their families, and all those who have supported our nation's longest war. The objective of these events is to raise legislative awareness of the foundation among members of Congress in order to amend current laws prohibiting the building of a war memorial on the Mall in Washington D.C. until 10 years after the official end of hostilities of a war has been declared.

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On Sunday, July 17, the GWOT Memorial Foundation will be the beneficiary of a Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert hosted by Cleveland Rocks 2016 - a concert series planned for Cleveland around the time of the Republican National Convention. The band, famous for such songs as "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama," will perform for the "Welcome to Ohio Late Night" party hosted by Ohio Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger at Jacob's Pavilion in downtown Cleveland.

The concert series, produced by Blue Star Productions and organized by Legacy of Valor Endowment will also feature Kid Rock and support other partnering non-profits such as the Green Beret Foundation, The Guardians of Heroes Foundation and the Folded Flag Foundation.

On Tuesday, July 26, during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the GWOT Memorial Foundation will host a cocktail reception sponsored by BakerHostetler and Farmers Insurance at the Cira Centre from 4-6 PM. Catering will be provided by the Garces Group. Guests will enjoy an opportunity to mingle with Veterans affairs staffers and several members of Congress as well as learn about the GWOT Memorial Foundation. For more information about corporate sponsor packages and VIP benefit packages, please email Krista Sherkey at: sherkey@gwotmemorialfoundation.org.

"We know this is going to be an 8-to-10 year endeavor. The fundraising, design process and actual construction will be a continuous, developing process. However, clearing the legislative hurdles to build a memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. is our primary focus for the next year and a half," said Andrew Brennan, founder and executive director of the GWOT Memorial Foundation. "Without legislative support, our mission can't be realized. Our main objective is to mobilize Veterans, military members and all Americans to let their legislators know this is an issue constituents want resolved. No better place to launch that initiative than in an election year at both Conventions."

Brennan is urging supporters to:

1)   Visit the GWOT Memorial Foundation website at www.gwotmemorialfoundation.org to learn more about the organization and its cause; and 

2) Contact their legislators directly with the foundation's easy to use "Take Action" portion of  their website at www.gwotmemorialfoundation.org/take-action/ or by texting "GWOTMF" to 52886 from their mobile phones. Texting fees may apply contingent on users' mobile carriers.

In support of the GWOT Memorial Foundation's efforts, advisory board member General George W. Casey, Jr. (Ret.) said: "Building the Global War on Terror Memorial on the National Mall will forever preserve the memory of those we have lost since September 11, 2001. They were volunteers from every background, ethnicity, and hometown across America. This memorial will serve as a place to educate, inspire and connect so that we never forget those who gave their lives to maintain our freedom."

To follow the events at both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, please follow @gwotmf on Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat.

About the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation:

The mission of the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation 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, US services members, their families, and all those who supported our nation's longest war. The objective is to create a tangible symbol of the sacrifices made by fallen U.S. service members and their families while they were supporting the Global War on Terror.

Media Contacts:

Krista Sherkey
Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation
Email 
Phone: 267-461-5739

Melissa Kim
Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation
Email 
Phone: 808-683-8422

SOURCE Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation