WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) and 33 other Members of Congress today sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to reverse his administration’s decision to reject a permit request filed by American Veterans (AMVETS) to use the Pentagon’s parking lot as the staging area for their Rolling To Remember Memorial Day event. Memorial Day traditions like Rolling to Remember have been granted permits by every administration, Democrat and Republican, for the past 30 years.

“I would have hoped that President Biden would have more respect for a Memorial Day tradition, which raises awareness to the 82,000 service members who are still missing in actions and that 22 veterans die by suicide each day," Rep. Mast said. "That is why today, I along with 33 of my House colleagues are urging President Biden to reverse his administration's decision and grant Rolling to Remember their permit request to use the Pentagon's parking lot. "

In March, the Pentagon's Special Event Team initially sent AMVETS approval to use the Pentagon parking lot for their annual Rolling To Remember Memorial Day event only to revoke that approval a week later, citing a "routing error.”  Following this decision, Rep. Mast wrote to the Pentagon urging them to approve the permit.

On April 30, 2021, however, the Department of Defense informed AMVETS that their permit request had been officially denied. The Biden Administration is the only thing stopping this event from happening as nine-state, local, and federal agencies had already approved the permit for this year's event.

U.S. Representatives who also signed on to the letter: Ken Calvert (CA-42), Doug LaMalfa (CA-1), Clay Higgins (LA-3), Robert Aderholt (AL-4), Ralph Norman (SC-5), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Madison Cawthorn (NC-11), Daniel Webster (FL-11), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Darrell Issa (CA-50), Morgan Griffith (VA-9), Greg Steube (FL-17), Jeff Duncan (SC-3), Bob Latta (OH-5), Stephanie Bice (OK-5), Lee Zeldin (NY-1), Ben Cline (VA-6), Brian Babin (TX-36), Mo Brooks (AL-5), Nancy Mace (SC-1), Yvette Herrell (NM-2), Tom McClintock (CA-4), Glenn Grothman (WI-6), Chip Roy (TX-21), Ted Budd (NC-13), Ann Wagner (MO-2), Andrew Clyde (GA-9), Bill Posey (FL-8), Paul Gosar (AZ-4), Bob Good (VA-5), Barry Moore (AL-2), Russ Fulcher (ID-1) and Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14).

A copy of the letter that Rep. Mast and the 33 other Members of Congress sent to President Biden is attached.

BACKGROUND

• AMVETS is a Congressionally-chartered veterans service organization, representing the interests of 20 million veterans.
• The Pentagon parking lot has been used for the last three decades to host Memorial Day events like Rolling To Remember.
• The Rolling To Remember event raises awareness to the 82,000 service members who are still missing in actions and that 22 veterans die by suicide each day.