Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Education

Major

Educational Practice

Date of Defense

6-18-2025

Graduate Advisor

Theresa Coble, PhD

Committee

Keith Miller, PhD

Lauren Obermark, PhD

Abstract

As objects of public commemoration, the American public expects our national war and veteran memorials to draw coherent narratives from diverse, often contradictory, experiences. In return, our society bestows these places with extraordinary authority, allowing them to define the essence of events from years ago. This dissertation explores that phenomenon in the context of the national Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial, which has been approved for placement in the National Mall and is in its design phase. As its framework, this dissertation uses the four truth framework developed by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. With a focus on the GWOT and the current memorial plans, this framework examines the narratives emanating from a place or era using multiple truthful lenses to determine the similarities, differences, areas of agreement, and contestations. With data generated through on-site observation of visitors at existing war and veteran memorials, semi-structured interviews with key staff and GWOT veterans, and a review of the memorial literature, the research examines how current memorials have (or have not) included new narratives and evolving understandings of their subjects and how those insights might be applied to the GWOT Memorial. This dissertation then combines two styles of written product to share implications for site design and programming at the pending GWOT Memorial. The findings, which in this dissertation format are accessible to scholars, practitioners, and lay readers, suggest that for the GWOT Memorial to fully achieve its goals, it must be deliberately designed with a capacity to enable shared reflection, honor multiple perspectives and stories, and acknowledge new insights over time.

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