Small Wars Journal

Desert Storm Veterans' Memorial Planned

Fri, 06/24/2016 - 10:20am

Desert Storm Veterans' Memorial Planned to Honor Fallen Service Members by Aaron Gilchrist and Blake Richardson, Channel 4 (NBC), Washington, D.C.

Nearly 700,000 U.S. troops served in Operation Desert Storm, and 25 years later, plans are underway to add a memorial on Washington, D.C.'s National Mall to honor their sacrifices. 

The effort to create the National Desert Storm Veterans War Memorial is gaining strength. The memorial is planned for the northwestern corner of the National Mall — steps from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial.

"We feel that it belongs here, close to the others, especially Vietnam," said Scott Stump, the CEO and president of the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association

The memorial, which received congressional and presidential approval after six years, is designed to feature the names of those who died during the war.

Early renderings show a massive, curved wall made of Kuwaiti limestone, recalling the sands of Kuwait's desert.

"The left hook design shows the military maneuver up into Iraq that enveloped Kuwait to liberate them," Stump said.

The design is intended to surround visitors with images and stories from the Gulf War and the names of those who died…

Read on.