The National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Georgia, on Monday will dedicate the new Global War on Terrorism Memorial.
The memorial consists of eight granite panels etched with the names of nearly 7,000 service members who have died in the Global War on Terrorism since 9/11, according to a press release from the National Infantry Museum. Two concrete columns representing the Twin Towers hold up a 13-foot steel beam salvaged from the World Trade Center and donated by New York City Firefighters.
Nine bronze statues representing a squad of infantry soldiers line the monument, along with narrative panels chronicling the United States’ longest war. The memorial was designed to honor all branches of the armed forces, and has illustrations of each service’s role in the Global War on Terrorism, according to the press release.
Retired Gen. John Abizaid, the longest-serving commander of U.S. Central Command, will speak at the ceremony, according to the press release. Other speakers include retired Lt. Gen. Tom Metz, retired Brig. Gen. Chris Donahue and retired Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent.
Chaplain Yonina Creditor, a Navy rabbi who served as an EMT at Ground Zero after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, will host the ceremony’s closing prayer, according to the press release.
Shuttle transportation will also be provided on Fort Benning at three pickup points: McGinnis-Wickham Hall East Lot, Brave Rifles Field at Harmony Church and Kannell Field at Sand Hill, according to the press release.
Kyle Rempfer was an editor and reporter who has covered combat operations, criminal cases, foreign military assistance and training accidents.
Before entering journalism, Kyle served in U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and deployed in 2014 to Paktika Province, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq.
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