Site Dedicated for Global War on Terror Memorial

Beneath a dark cloud of a stormy Friday morning, there was a sense of optimism amongst the guests, honorees and dignitaries gathered under a tent in the courtyard of the Bucks County Courthouse. They had been invited by the Doylestown VFW Post 175 to celebrate the dedication of the site where the planned Global War on Terror Memorial will be constructed, sharing space with other memorials dedicated to World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

With the ceremony complete, the five year-long journey to establish a permanent marker that commemorates the service of Bucks County soldiers has come another step closer to the finish line.

"We are going to make the people of Bucks County aware of the incredible sacrifices these warriors have made," said Rich Scott, commander of the Doylestown VFW.

The memorial, designed by CB East graduate and Doylestown resident Steve Brauns, will consist of four sections constructed of brick and aluminum with a centerpiece that features a section of runway from the United States Air Force Base in Bagram, Afghanistan. 

Photo boxes on the exterior will contain anodized aluminum pictures of 'Firsts' achieved during the war, including women in combat, an all-volunteer force, unmanned warfare such as drones and robots, and advancements in armored combat vehicles. Other sections will be devoted to the combat environment of Iraq and Afghanistan and technology used to prosecute the war.

The interior will feature a checkerboard of photo boxes with photographs and biographical information provided by the families of those being memorialized. Since the start of the Global War on Terror, Bucks County has lost 19 men and one woman on the battlefield.

The plan, according to Col. Gregory Marston, chairperson of the memorial design committee, is to have visitors 100 years from now view the finished Global War on Terror Memorial and get an understanding of the war and Bucks County's sacrifices.

"We have the resources now to do more than etch names on a wall," said Marston. "We can tell the story of what happened and the technology that was used."

If the fundraising and project management stays on track, Scott anticipates that the memorial will take about a year to construct. The Doylestown VFW began the project five years ago and has relied on fundraising and volunteer work to push the mission forward. Scott estimates the money goal at $200,000, which will also cover maintenance costs and allow for the creation of an escrow account to cover any major repairs.

Donations to the Global War on Terror Memorial fund can be made via the VFW website or by sending a check to:

Doylestown Post 175 GWOT Memorial Fund

PO Box 1533

Doylestown, PA 18901