DudeAbides

So, being a veteran of the Global War on Terror, I read with great interest that the folks responsible for designing a monument had released images and an explanation of the design. gwotmemorialfoundation.org/ I must say, after viewing the design and taking in many of the comments about it, that I feel the need to chime in with my 2 cents. I'm not an art critic, and while I have a degree in Technical Illustration and have designed logos and made all types of artwork over the years, it doesn't make me an expert by any means. I do, however, have the right to an opinion and the means to express it. 1. A memorial to something should not ever need to be explained. While it is acceptable to include design elements that require thought or closer inspection, the overall piece shouldn't be an enigma for the viewer to decipher. 2. It seems that a lot of effort was put into emphasising "healing." I am all for healing and for people coming to grips with their inner demons, but we also need to codify the courage and steadfast determination of those who answered the call after 9/11. Many went to combat over and over again, and they all volunteered to fight a determined enemy who attacked us for who we are. That MUST be acknowledged. 3. The memorial MUST include a list of the fallen; they are only forgotten when we stop saying their name. 4. I was taught in the Army not to complain about something unless you have a solution to offer. Here's my vision of the thing, which I feel touches on all the points I have previously mentioned. My version of the monument would have at its center 4 statues, back to back, facing outward, forming a circle. The statues would depict the pain of losing a loved one or a friend, a soldier ready for combat in their uniform, with a weapon at the ready, the aftermath of battle depicting the same soldier, tired and worn, and the return home. These statues don't need to be a single person, but they need to express those themes. They are in a circle to show the never-ending nature of deployments during the GWOT. There should be sand from Iraq and rock from the mountains of Afghanistan...if they want to make a pathway around that with bootprints, have at it. Also, figure out where to put all the names...maybe an artistic version of T-Walls. 5. There's a place where you can give your input. 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 [email protected] 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. 6. If you like what they've proposed, that's great, but I went to war 3 times between 2004 and 2010, and I personally feel that they've missed the mark badly with this design, and it needs to be fixed. If you agree, don't just click lie, do something.