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

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 campaign 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. The design, led by Skip Graffam, evokes a sandstorm and the famous 'Left Hook' military maneuver, using Brazilian stone that mimics Kuwaiti barchan dunes. The memorial features a central 'unity' shield with the names of 36 coalition nations and Kuwait's national flower. Located at 23rd and Constitution Avenue, it is expected to attract 5-6 million annual visitors.