On Saturday, October 24, 2026, officials in Washington, D.C. formally dedicated the new Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, a permanent place honoring the Americans who served and the roughly 300 who lost their lives during the two operations. The memorial honors U.S. service members who participated in the two core military phases of the Gulf War. In August 1990, at the direction of Saddam Hussein, Iraqi forces invaded neighboring Kuwait, seeking control of its oil resources and claiming that Kuwaiti territory was part of Iraq. The invasion prompted widespread international criticism, with world leaders calling on Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait.  When Iraq refused to leave Kuwait despite diplomatic efforts and economic sanctions, the coalition launched Operation Desert Storm in January 1991, beginning with airstrikes against Iraqi military targets. A ground offensive followed in late February, driving Iraqi forces out of Kuwait and bringing the fighting to an end after roughly 100 hours of ground combat.

“Over the past six years, it has been my great honor to design the bas-relief carvings on the memorial’s Storm Wall. This weekend, I was truly humbled to watch veterans from across the country come to experience the work,” said sculptor Emily Bedard.

The 125-foot bas-relief memorial was four years in the making and now sits in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall. The memorial, which cost $40 million, was entirely funded from donations from VFWS.

To see a recording of the unveiling and dedication, click HERE.