0735 – terrorists Atta and al-Omari board American Airlines Flight 11, along with the rest of the Flight 11 hijackers.
0759 – American Airlines Flight 11 departs towards Los Angeles International Airport.
Archive for the ‘Memorial’ Category
9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 0700
Tuesday, September 11th, 20189/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 0600
Tuesday, September 11th, 2018
0600 – terrorists Mohammed Atta and Abdulaziz al-Omari traveled to Logan International Airport from Portland International Jetport in Portland, Maine.
0652 – fellow terrorist Marwan al-Shehhi called Atta at Logan to confirm the plans of the attack.
President George W Bush Takes On New Role As The Global War On Terror Memorial Foundation’s Honorary Chairman
Monday, August 20th, 2018
The non-profit foundation welcomes new board members, staff, advisors, ambassadors and architectural partner with expertise in government, defense, investment, foundation, retail industries as well as building and plans.
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 13, 2018 – The Global War on Terror (GWOT) Memorial Foundation, the congressionally-designated non-profit foundation tasked with organizing, fundraising and coordinating efforts to build a new memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., today announced new board of directors, staff, advisory board members, ambassadors and architectural partner, including naming former President George W. Bush as its Honorary Chairman.
“I’m honored to join my friend, President and CEO Michael “Rod” Rodriguez, and the Members of the Board as Honorary Chairman of the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation,” said President George W. Bush. “The highest honor of the presidency was serving as Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces. And my most solemn duty was to support them and honor them. Laura and I are pleased that this memorial on the National Mall will help Americans remember the brave men and women who selflessly served our nation in the name of freedom.”
Since leaving office, President Bush has championed efforts to support GWOT veterans and their families through the Military Service Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute. They work to help post-9/11 veterans and their families make successful transitions to civilian life, specifically by addressing the challenges of employment and overcoming the invisible wounds of war. Core programs of the Military Service Initiative include a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce called the Veteran Employment Transition Roadmap and the Warrior Wellness Alliance, which connects peer-to-peer veteran networks with best-in-class health care providers. Annual Team 43 sporting events, such as the Bush Institute Warrior Open golf tournament and W100K mountain bike ride, draw attention to the strength, sacrifice and resilience of post-9/11 warriors and their families.
“We’re humbled and honored to welcome President Bush to the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation,” said Michael “Rod” Rodriguez, CEO of the GWOT Memorial Foundation. “Having served under President Bush when I wore the uniform and then working on his Military Service Initiative Advisory Council after my time on active duty, I’ve witnessed firsthand the dedication, compassion and true servant leadership the former President displays at all times. I am blessed to welcome him to the GWOT Memorial Foundation team not only as our Honorary Chairman but as a friend.”
“Our new Board Members, Staff, Advisors and Ambassadors bring a wealth of experience and expertise as well as share in the President’s passion and commitment to build a national memorial that honors GWOT veterans, their families and the American people. We’re confident that their leadership and experience will strengthen the organization and inspire others to support our sacred duty to build a national memorial on America’s front yard as our GWOT Memorial Foundation team continues to grow,” continued Rod.
Over the months ahead, the GWOT Memorial Foundation is focused on advocating for land within the National Mall in Washington, D.C. To prepare for this next step toward successful accomplishment of the mission, the organization is welcoming several new board of directors, advisory board members and ambassadors as the organization continues its growth. The full list of new members is as follows:
The GWOT Memorial Foundation welcomes the following new members:
New Board of Director Members:
• Kenneth A. Hersh, President and Chief Executive Officer, George W. Bush Presidential Center
• Joseph M. DePinto, President and Chief Executive Officer, 7-Eleven, Inc.
• Colonel Michael Lacey, USA, Retired. GWOT Veteran, Special Counsel to the U.S. Army General Counsel and Blue Star Father
New Director of Operations:
• Kelly L. Rodriguez, USA, Retired. GWOT Veteran, Blue Star Mother
New Board of Advisor Members:
• General Peter Pace, USMC, Retired. 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• The Honorable Martha E. Newton, Founder, Heath Strategies
• Command Sergeant Major Isaia Vimoto, USA, Retired. GWOT Veteran, Gold Star and Blue Star Father
• Colonel Miguel Howe, USA, Retired. GWOT Veteran, April and Jay Graham Fellow of the Military Service Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute
• John “JJ” Pinter, GWOT Veteran, Executive Director of Team RWB
• James Fisher, Executive Director of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation
• Kevin Sullivan, Founder of Kevin Sullivan Communications, Inc. and Sr. Advisor, External Affairs at George W. Bush Presidential Center
New Ambassadors:
• Flo Groberg, Captain, Retired. GWOT Veteran, Medal of Honor Recipient
• Jane Horton, Gold Star Spouse, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense
• Maggie Duskin, Gold Star Spouse and Blue Star Mother, Duskin Stephens Executive Board
• Bryon Vincent, USA, Retired. GWOT Veteran, Blue Star Spouse
• Brendan Dignan, GWOT Veteran and attorney with Baker Botts LLP, counsel to the foundation
Architectural Partner:
• Winstanley Architects and Planners
To learn more about the GWOT Memorial Foundation or to donate, visit gwotmf.org or follow the Foundation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
(photo credit Grant Miller Photography)
Remembering Extortion 17
Monday, August 6th, 2018
Rest In Peace Dick Swan
Friday, July 6th, 2018According to gun writer Gary Paul Johnston:
Mr. Richard Swan, inventor of the Swan Rail, which was adopted as the Mil-Std-1913 rail, and was nicknamed the “Picatinny” rail, passed away at home in his sleep the night of July 3rd after an illness.
Dick Swan also designed numerous mounting systems for the U.S. Military from the early 1990’s to the present, many of which continue to be used and copied through the world.
Remember The Fallen On This Day
Monday, May 28th, 2018
That’s it. It’s all this day is about. You can do any other thing you’d like today, but please, just take some time to think about those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of this nation.
ANZAC Day
Wednesday, April 25th, 2018
I’ll tip back a pint this evening in memory of all the ANZAC troops, from World War One’s Battle of Gallipoli to the battle fought today. I’ll think of friends in both Australian and New Zealand militaries and good times deployed to bad places.
Operation Eagle Claw
Tuesday, April 24th, 2018Today marks the anniversary of Operation Eagle Claw. In the early morning hours of 25 April, 1980 President Carter announced to a stunned world that the United States had undertaken an ambitious raid into Iran to liberate 52 American hostages held illegally at our Embassy compound in Tehran. Unfortunately, Operation Eagle Claw was unsuccessful and we lost eight American servicemen in a horrible aircraft ground collision. Join me in remembering their sacrifice.
However, their deaths were not in vain. The hostages were eventually repatriated and the accident was the watershed event that created, over the next several decades, the world’s preeminent Special Operations capability; USSOCOM and its components. We wouldn’t be where are today without the determination of that fledgling task force. Join me in remembering those that had the guts to try.
