Lawmaker Proposes Global War on Terror Memorial at Capitol

Washington state Representative Hunter Abell, a Republican from Inchelium, has introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at establishing a permanent memorial for the Global War on Terror on the Washington state Capitol campus. This initiative seeks to honor the service members who lost their lives during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the formal designation of House Bill 2514 laying out a structured timeline and process for the memorial’s creation.

The proposed memorial would ensure that those who answered the call of duty following the events of September 11, 2001, receive recognition alongside veterans of earlier conflicts already commemorated on the Capitol grounds. “Our Capitol campus rightly honors those who served in World War I and II, Korea and Vietnam,” Abell stated. “But for the men and women from Washington who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, nothing has ever been completed. This bill says clearly that their sacrifice matters, and that it is time we honor them.”

Washington state is home to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a significant military installation where thousands of service members were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Estimates indicate that between 150 and nearly 300 individuals with ties to Washington lost their lives in these conflicts, a number that varies depending on whether they were born in the state or stationed there. “Either way, they are Washingtonians,” Abell remarked. “They lived here, trained here, raised families here, and they deserve to be remembered here.”

As a Navy Reserve commander with over 20 years of military service, including deployments to Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Abell emphasizes that honoring fallen service members is a fundamental duty of government. “This is part of what government does,” he said. “We honor those who gave the last full measure of devotion in service to our country. An appropriate memorial on our Capitol campus is how we ensure future generations understand the cost of freedom.”

The proposed bill encompasses the period from September 11, 2001, to the end of U.S. operations in Afghanistan. It establishes a work group responsible for determining who should be memorialized, selecting a design, identifying a suitable location, and developing a budget. The funding for the memorial is primarily intended to come from private donations. While a state account for a Global War on Terror memorial already exists, progress has stalled due to the absence of a clear process.

“Interest has always been there, and that’s evident in the very strong bipartisan support the bill has received thus far,” Abell explained. “What’s been missing is a roadmap. This bill creates that roadmap and gives people confidence that their support will lead to something real.”

The legislation includes an aspirational timeline of up to five years for the memorial’s completion, although Abell hopes for visible progress sooner. “I’m an optimist,” he stated. “There is strong support from veterans organizations and from families who lost loved ones. That support tells me this memorial is long overdue.”

As of now, House Bill 2514 has been referred to the House State Government Committee. Abell encourages Washington residents to participate actively in the legislative process. “The best way to help move this forward is to look up the bill, follow the hearing schedule, and contact your state representative,” he advised. “Let them know this matters.”