War on terror memorial

AN ACT Relating to establishing a global war on terror memorial 1
on the capitol campus; amending RCW 43.34.100; adding a new section 2
to chapter 43.34 RCW; creating a new section; and providing a 3
contingent expiration date. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature intends to remember 6
Washington service members who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom, 7
Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn, which are 8
classified under the umbrella term global war on terror.9
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, many 10
Washington residents answered the call to serve their country in the 11
global war on terror. They chose duty and sacrifice, serving in the 12
nation's all-volunteer military to prevent such a devastating attack 13
on America from happening again. 14
Operation Enduring Freedom began on October 7, 2001, when the 15
United States initiated military operations in Afghanistan. Combat 16
operations there concluded on December 31, 2014. 17
Operation Iraqi Freedom began on March 20, 2003. Although 18
President Bush declared an end to major combat operations on May 1, 19
2003, prolonged insurgency and sectarian violence persisted. United 20
States forces continued peacekeeping efforts and supported the new 21
H-2893.1
HOUSE BILL 2514
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Abell, Leavitt, Marshall, Corry, Rude, Dufault,
Donaghy, Davis, Stuebe, Penner, Richards, Schmidt, Barkis, Bronoske,
Barnard, Reeves, and Nance
Read first time 01/15/26. Referred to Committee on State Government
& Tribal Relations.
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Iraqi government under Operation New Dawn until their withdrawal on 1
December 15, 2011. 2
Although military operations in the global war on terror ended in 3
2014, there is no memorial on the state capitol campus to 4
specifically honor Washington residents who died in these operations.5
The legislature intends to establish a dedicated memorial on the 6
global war on terror. This memorial will continue Washington's 7
tradition of recognizing residents who made the ultimate sacrifice to 8
defend the homeland and promote peace worldwide. 9
Sec. 2. RCW 43.34.100 and 2022 c 191 s 12 are each amended to 10
read as follows: 11
((Any)) (1) The global war on terror memorial is established on 12
the capitol campus to commemorate the global war on terror ((must)) 13
to recognize service members who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom, 14
Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn, which are 15
classified under the umbrella term global war on terror. ((Any such)) 16
The memorial must include a component designed to reflect on the 17
great number of active duty service members and veterans who have 18
died by suicide after serving in these wars. The design of ((such a)) 19
the memorial must serve to honor those who are lost and provide a 20
sacred space for healing and reflection for veterans and military 21
families. 22
(2) The capitol committee, or any subcommittee within, must 23
consult with the department of enterprise services and the global war 24
on terror memorial work group in its planning, construction, and 25
placement of the memorial.26
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.34 27
RCW to read as follows: 28
(1) The global war on terror memorial work group is established 29
to study and make recommendations on a memorial on the capitol campus 30
to honor service members who died in the global war on terror.31
(2) The global war on terror memorial work group consists of:32
(a) The secretary of state, or the secretary's designee;33
(b) Two members from the house of representatives, one appointed 34
by the speaker of the house of representatives and one appointed by 35
the house minority leader; 36
(c) Two members from the senate, one appointed by the senate 37
majority leader and one appointed by the senate minority leader;38
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(d) The director of the department of veterans affairs, or the 1
director's designee; 2
(e) The director of the Washington state parks and recreation 3
commission, or the director's designee; 4
(f) The director of the department of enterprise services, or the 5
director's designee; 6
(g) The director of the Washington state military department, or 7
the director's designee; 8
(h) The state archivist, or the state archivist's designee;9
(i) A representative of the capitol campus design advisory 10
committee who is not the secretary of state or a legislative member 11
already appointed to the work group; and 12
(j) Two representatives from veterans' organizations, appointed 13
by the secretary of state. 14
(3) The global war on terror memorial work group must convene its 15
initial meeting before July 15, 2026, and must meet at least 16
quarterly thereafter. At its initial meeting, the members shall 17
select two cochairs from among its membership. 18
(4) The global war on terror memorial work group must provide the 19
capitol committee with a report detailing: 20
(a) Recommended names of individuals to be honored at the 21
memorial; 22
(b) Recommended locations on the capitol campus where the 23
memorial could be constructed and include any permit requirements or 24
other restrictions that may exist for each location;25
(c) Recommendations for a sculptor to design and carve or cast 26
the memorial; 27
(d) Potential draft designs for the memorial; 28
(e) Recommended funding sources to carry out the purposes of this 29
section; and 30
(f) A proposed budget to fully cover the costs for:31
(i) The design, construction, transportation, and placement of 32
the memorial; 33
(ii) Any required permits; 34
(iii) Anticipated ongoing maintenance costs passed on potential 35
materials used and historical maintenance of other memorials on the 36
capitol campus; 37
(iv) A ceremony to celebrate the unveiling of the memorial; and38
(v) Other expenses that may be necessary for the planning, 39
construction, and placement of the memorial. 40
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(5) The capitol committee shall begin the selection and 1
contracting process with a sculptor recommended by the work group 2
within 30 days of receiving sufficient funds to fully cover costs 3
described under subsection (4)(f) of this section. The capitol 4
committee must provide written notice to affected parties, the chief 5
clerk of the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate, 6
the office of the code reviser, and others deemed appropriate by the 7
capitol committee upon receiving sufficient funds to fully cover 8
costs described under subsection (4)(f) of this section.9
(6) The capitol committee is encouraged to complete the planning, 10
construction, and placement of the memorial within five years of the 11
condition under subsection (5) of this section being met. The global 12
war on terror memorial work group shall arrange for a ceremony to 13
celebrate the unveiling of the memorial. 14
(7) The global war on terror memorial work group may:15
(a) Perform all other matters and things necessary to carry out 16
the purposes of this section; and 17
(b) Solicit and receive gifts, grants, or endowments from public 18
and private sources that are made in trust or otherwise for the use 19
and benefit of the purposes of the committee in carrying out this 20
section. The committee may spend gifts, grants, or endowments or 21
income from public or private sources according to their terms. All 22
receipts from gifts, grants, and endowments received under this 23
subsection must be deposited in the Washington state global war on 24
terror memorial account established in RCW 43.34.105.25
(8) Staff support for the work group must be provided by the 26
office of the secretary of state. 27
(9) Members of the work group shall receive no compensation for 28
their service as members of the work group. However, legislative 29
members of the work group may be reimbursed for travel expenses in 30
accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those 31
who are participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, 32
or other organization, may be reimbursed for travel and other 33
expenses in accordance with chapter 43.03 RCW. 34
(10) This section expires after the unveiling of the global war 35
on terror memorial. The secretary of state shall notify affected 36
parties, the governor, the chief clerk of the house of 37
representatives, the secretary of the senate, the office of the code 38
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reviser, and others deemed appropriate of the date when the unveiling 1
ceremony is completed. 2
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