Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial to open on National Mall on Oct 24, 2026

Published Aug 3, 06:29 PM UTC

The National Desert Storm War Memorial Association announced that the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial will open to the public on October 24, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The memorial honors the 383 U.S. service members who died and all who served in the 1990-1991 operations to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. Scott Stump, a Marine Corps Reserve veteran and president of the association, began the 16-year effort in 2010 after noticing the campaign was often overlooked at veteran events. The memorial's design evokes a sandstorm and the famous 'Left Hook' maneuver, using stone from Brazil that resembles Kuwaiti barchan dunes. It features a central 'unity' shield with Kuwait's national flower and the names of 36 coalition nations. Located at 23rd and Constitution Avenue, the site is along the route of the 1991 victory parade.