Not many 13 year olds can say they have spoken at the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.
In 2003, after the war in Iraq and Afghanistan began, Congress passed a law stating that nothing else could go in the National Mall. This site is home to iconic monuments including the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
Our very own Alston Arrechaga, son of our 6th Hero who was KIA in Afghanistan in 2011, spoke at the Capitol after his family, several Gold Star families, and other military supporters fought month after month for Congress to allow a new memorial to be built at the National Mall in remembrance of those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Finally, December 2021, President Biden signed off on the memorial. Now they are working to privately fund the memorial through the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. We are so proud of Alston, his mom Seana, and all the other military supporters working endlessly to ensure a place is built to gather, remember, and reflect on those that have given their all for our freedom.