FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2025

CONTACT: press@iava.org

IAVA Urges Fellow Americans to #GoSilent on Memorial Day

IAVA’s Annual Memorial Day Campaign Highlights the Fallen Lost While Deployed Under the 2001 Authorization for Use of Force (AUMF) — but not in the Afghanistan War

Washington, DC – This Memorial Day, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is calling on all Americans to #GoSilent and participate in a moment of silence at 3PM local time in honor of the men and women in uniform that paid the ultimate price in defense of our nation. 

This year, we’re also drawing specific attention to those U.S. service members who were killed while deployed under the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) that was passed in response to the 9/11 attacks, but was used to justify sending them to places other than Afghanistan. Troops killed in places like Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and Niger, in addition to troops killed in Iraq well after America was told that the war there was over. 

“In 2001, following the 9/11 attacks, Congress authorized the use of force to respond, resulting in the War in Afghanistan,” said IAVA CEO and Iraq War veteran Allison Jaslow. “Since then, that war authorization has been used to justify deploying American troops into harm’s way in places like Syria, Yemen and Niger. IAVA will ‘Go Silent’ on Memorial Day this year, as we do every year, to honor all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country. But this year we also want our fellow Americans to pay special attention to those who gave it all for us in places they may not have even known they were being asked to potentially do so.”   

In a recent survey of IAVA veterans, 68% of IAVA veterans expressed a desire for the repeal or reform of the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs. Only 15% of IAVA veterans told us that they think the AUMFs should be left ‘as-is’.

 Join us in this national moment of remembrance and pledge to #GoSilent here today.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the leading voice of the Post-9/11 generation of American veterans. We represent over 425,000 members, and our best-in-class, non-partisan advocacy on behalf of the post-9/11 generation of veterans has chalked up big wins for our community – and America – for 20 years and counting.

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