Green Beret Foundation Establishes Sentinel Fund to Protect and Preserve America’s Response Monument

Initiative marks the 25th anniversary of the Special Forces insertion into Afghanistan and commits to enduring overwatch of a national symbol of courage, service, and sacrifice.

Southern Pines, N.C. (October 19, 2026) — The Green Beret Foundation today announced the establishment of the Sentinel Fund, a dedicated initiative to protect, preserve, and safeguard America’s Response Monument in New York City. Launched on the 25th anniversary of the October 19, 2001, Special Forces insertion into Afghanistan, the fund establishes a lasting commitment to the monument’s physical integrity, public presence, and the history it carries forward.

The designated fund has been established through the generosity of an anonymous donor who previously served in the 5th Special Forces Group. This founding gift reflects a deeply personal commitment to preserving the legacy of the warriors honored by the monument and ensuring their service and sacrifice remain visible in the heart of New York City.

“Twenty-five years ago, Green Berets entered Afghanistan carrying the resolve of a nation wounded by September 11,” said Charles P. Iacono, President and CEO of the Green Beret Foundation. “America’s Response Monument gives lasting form to their courage and to the service and sacrifice of all who answered that call.”

Standing in Liberty Park overlooking the National September 11 Memorial, America’s Response Monument depicts a Green Beret on horseback, honoring the extraordinary courage and resourcefulness of the Special Forces soldiers and their fellow special operations and interagency partners who answered the nation’s call following the September 11 attacks. Known widely as the “Horse Soldier” monument, it connects the memory of that day with the resolve of those who went forward in its aftermath.

The Sentinel Fund will provide an enduring overwatch of this significant memorial through support for preservation, restoration, advocacy, and protective efforts. Its purpose is to address threats to the monument’s condition and continued public presence, including deterioration, vandalism, defacement, and any future efforts to remove, diminish, or compromise its place of honor. The initiative also seeks to preserve the monument’s role as a place of remembrance, reflection, and education for generations to come.

The Green Beret Foundation’s name appears on the monument in recognition of its support for the effort that brought it into being. Its creation required a herculean undertaking, uniting the vision, determination, and generosity of those committed to ensuring America’s response to September 11 would have a lasting place in the nation’s memory. Having helped make that vision a reality, the Foundation considers it both fitting and necessary to step forward again to safeguard its future.

“Our Foundation’s name is on this monument because Scott Neil and the leaders of the Green Beret Foundation helped bring it into being,” said Iacono. “Their vision and determination carry forward a responsibility that does not end with its dedication. Through the Sentinel Fund, we are stepping forward to provide enduring overwatch, protect its place in our national memory, and ensure future generations understand who these warriors were, what they did, and why their service must never be forgotten.”

The anniversary serves as a reminder that remembrance requires continued action. By establishing the Sentinel Fund, the Green Beret Foundation is extending its commitment to the Special Forces community to include safeguarding a monument that tells an essential part of its story.

The Foundation invites individuals, families, corporate partners to support this effort and help ensure America’s Response Monument remains protected, cared for, and accessible to the public.

About the Green Beret Foundation

Established in 2009, the Green Beret Foundation supports U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers, veterans, and their families through programs that address the needs of the community and strengthen mind, body, and spirit. Its work includes casualty support, health and wellness assistance, family support, educational opportunities, and assistance accessing earned veterans’ benefits.

For more information, visit greenberetfoundation.org.