Veterans organizations oppose injunction against privately funded monument honoring military service and America's 250th anniversary of independence.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — October 28, 2026 — Veterans for America First (VFAF.us) has joined five other veterans organizations in an amicus curiae (friend-of-the-court) brief filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, supporting President Donald J. Trump's proposed Triumphal Arch and opposing a preliminary injunction that would halt construction of the privately funded monument.
Filed October 28, 2026, in Michael Lemmon, et al. v. Donald J. Trump, et al., Case No. 1:26-cv-00544-TSC, Document 72-1, the brief brings together organizations representing generations of American military service, from the Korean and Vietnam Wars to today's veterans and first responders.
Six Veterans Organizations Unite
The participating organizations include:
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Veterans for America First (VFAF.us) — A national volunteer organization with more than 37,000 members and nine state chapters.
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Vietnam Veterans of America — A congressionally chartered organization with more than 90,000 members and 500 local chapters.
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Korean War Veterans Association — A congressionally chartered organization with more than 50,000 historical members.
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The Chosin Few — An organization honoring veterans of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, with more than 3,000 members.
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Military Order of the Purple Heart — A congressionally chartered organization representing more than 45,000 combat-wounded veterans.
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National Vet Court Alliance — A nonprofit dedicated to preventing veteran suicide and expanding specialized veterans treatment courts.
Veterans Unite Behind a Monument to American Sacrifice
The proposed Triumphal Arch would stand at Memorial Circle, creating a ceremonial connection between Arlington National Cemetery and the National Mall.
Designed to commemorate America's 250th anniversary of independence, the privately funded monument would recognize the service and sacrifice of generations of American military personnel.
The veterans organizations argue that the memorial transcends partisan politics and should be understood alongside Washington's existing national monuments honoring military service, sacrifice, liberty, and American history.
As the brief states:
"The message of the Triumphal Arch is not political. Its message is a unifying one of pride in the accomplishments of our nation and gratitude to the veterans and fallen soldiers who have made those accomplishments possible."
The organizations maintain that the monument is intended to recognize the sacrifices of American veterans rather than celebrate any individual political leader.
Jared Craig: Generations of Military Families Understand the Importance of Honoring Veterans
Jared Craig, Vice President and General Counsel of Veterans for America First (VFAF.us), is the son of a Vietnam War veteran, giving him a personal family connection to the generations of service members whose sacrifices the proposed monument is intended to recognize.
As a national organizational leader and general counsel, Craig supports VFAF's participation in the effort to ensure that veterans' voices are represented in the federal court proceedings surrounding the Triumphal Arch.
Christi Tasker, National Press Secretary for Veterans for America First, is the granddaughter of the late U.S. Army Attaché Hammond B. Davis. Her family's military heritage reflects the multigenerational importance of recognizing the men and women who have served the United States throughout its history.
For military families, the proposed arch represents more than a landmark. It is intended as a permanent acknowledgment of the sacrifices made not only by service members but also by the families who supported them.
VFAF emphasizes that opposition from individual veterans should not be mistaken for the position of the broader veterans community or the six organizations participating in the filing.
Federal Court Brief Challenges Legal Basis for Blocking Construction
The amicus brief advances three principal arguments against the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction.
First, the public interest favors honoring America's veterans.
The organizations argue that the Triumphal Arch would serve a national purpose by commemorating military service and the sacrifices that have sustained American freedom for 250 years.
The filing cites Supreme Court precedent recognizing the legitimate public purpose of honoring veterans and military sacrifice.
Second, the plaintiffs lack legal standing.
The brief argues that objections based on aesthetic or symbolic disagreement with the proposed monument do not establish the concrete, particularized injury required to pursue the requested federal court relief.
Citing Supreme Court precedent, the organizations maintain that disagreement with the government's architectural or commemorative decisions does not, by itself, establish standing under Article III of the Constitution.
Third, the proposed monument has a foundation in existing congressional authorization.
The filing cites a 1925 act of Congress authorizing a monument on the Arlington side of Memorial Bridge and argues that the statute remains effective because Congress did not repeal it or establish an expiration date.
The organizations further contend that the plaintiffs have failed to identify a specific statutory prohibition that would justify their claim that the National Park Service is acting beyond its legal authority.
The brief argues that the passage of more than a century does not invalidate congressional authorization that remains in effect.
The Importance of Honoring Veterans and Addressing Veteran Suicide
Beyond its legal arguments, the filing emphasizes the emotional and social importance of national recognition for veterans, particularly those struggling with the transition to civilian life.
Citing the Department of Veterans Affairs' September 2026 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, the brief notes that more than 17 veterans die by suicide each day on average.
The organizations argue that visible expressions of national gratitude can reinforce veterans' sense of pride, belonging, and recognition for their military service.
As the brief explains, tangible expressions of gratitude can communicate to veterans that the hardships they endured served a meaningful purpose and that their fellow Americans recognize their sacrifices.
For Veterans for America First, the proposed arch represents an opportunity to remind every veteran that their sacrifices have not been forgotten and that America's freedoms were secured through generations of extraordinary service.
A Historic Tribute for America's 250th Anniversary
The brief also addresses claims that the Triumphal Arch is intended to celebrate President Trump personally.
The veterans organizations reject that characterization, pointing to the proposed monument's traditional American symbolism, including Lady Liberty and the inscriptions "one nation under God" and "liberty and justice for all."
They note that triumphal arches have existed since the Roman Republic and are found in major democratic nations, including France and Great Britain.
The filing references the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Wellington Arch in London, and Washington Square Arch in New York City as examples of the architectural tradition.
The organizations argue that delaying construction through prolonged litigation would undermine the monument's intended connection to America's 250th anniversary.
They maintain that national monuments serve as enduring reminders of the principles, sacrifices, and shared history that unite Americans across generations.
Six Veterans Organizations Ask Federal Court to Deny Injunction
The participating organizations collectively represent tens of thousands of veterans and military families and contend that the proposed arch serves an important national purpose.
The brief concludes by requesting that the United States District Court for the District of Columbia deny the plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction.
The filing was submitted October 28, 2026, by attorneys Cameron T. Norris and Ryan M. Proctor of Consovoy McCarthy PLLC on behalf of the six veterans organizations.
About Veterans for America First
Veterans for America First (VFAF.us) is a national volunteer organization of veterans and first responders committed to defending America's constitutional republic, supporting the America First agenda, honoring military service, and advocating for veterans and their families.
With more than 37,000 members and nine state chapters, the organization works to amplify the voices of veterans and first responders in matters affecting national leadership, public policy, patriotism, and the preservation of American freedoms.
Website: https://VFAF.us
Media Contact and Interview Requests
Christi Tasker
National Press Secretary
Veterans for America First (VFAF.us)
Granddaughter of the late U.S. Army Attaché Hammond B. Davis
Phone: 702-703-9047
Email: ChristiTasker@gmail.com
Website: https://VFAF.us
Journalists, television producers, radio hosts, podcast hosts, and other media representatives seeking interviews with Jared Craig, Vice President and General Counsel, or any Veterans for America First members or representatives, should contact Christi Tasker to coordinate interview scheduling, obtain organizational statements, and arrange media appearances.
Legal Filing Reference
Document: Brief of Veterans' Organizations as Amici Curiae in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction
Case: Michael Lemmon, et al. v. Donald J. Trump, et al.
Case Number: 1:26-cv-00544-TSC
Document Number: 72-1
Filing Date: October 28, 2026
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
For more information about the project, visit https://www.ncpc.gov/participate/guidelines/.
