After 35 Years, Desert Storm Veterans Have a Memorial on the National Mall

WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 35 years after American troops fought to liberate Kuwait, the veterans of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm finally have their own memorial on the National Mall. Dedicated Saturday, October 24, 2026, the new landmark stands near the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, offering visitors a place to remember the service members, their families, and the international coalition behind the 1990–1991 Gulf War.

About 700,000 U.S. military personnel served in the conflict, according to the memorial’s design team. Their story is now told not by a towering statue, but through a winding path, walls carved with scenes of the war, and a peaceful garden inspired by an oasis in the desert.

Desert dunes, sculpted soldiers, and a shield of unity

Two long, curved walls of golden-beige granite suggest wind-shaped desert dunes. The path draws visitors toward a shaded grove, where trees, seating, and the sound of water provide a quiet contrast to the conflict the memorial commemorates.

One of those walls, known as the Storm Wall, stretches 250 feet. Its 125-foot carved relief by sculptor Emily Bedard shows the campaign unfolding — from preparations and troops on the ground to the liberation of Kuwait. The winding route recalls the sweeping “left hook” maneuver used by coalition forces during the ground war. An accompanying Inscription Wall honors all who served and those who lost their lives.

Two soaring stainless-steel sculptures, an American bald eagle and a Kuwaiti falcon, represent the partnership between the United States and Kuwait. In the heart of the memorial is the 28-foot-diameter bronze Unity Shield Fountain, engraved with the names of 41 coalition nations. Its water feature is seasonal, but the shield remains a centerpiece throughout the year.

The design was developed with input from Gulf War veterans by architecture and landscape firms CSO and OLIN. OLIN design partner Skip Graffam said he hoped veterans would feel “they have a spot on the mall that they feel is theirs.”

Why Desert Shield and Desert Storm mattered

On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. Operation Desert Shield brought U.S. forces to the region to defend Saudi Arabia and deter further aggression. When diplomatic efforts failed to secure Iraq’s withdrawal, a U.S.-led coalition launched Operation Desert Storm in January 1991. Kuwait was liberated the following month.

The memorial recognizes both the American military’s role and the cooperation of nations that joined the campaign. Its inscription and sculptural artwork are intended to tell that history to visitors who may have been too young to remember the war — or were not yet born.

In an October 24 statement welcoming the memorial into the National Park System, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the memorial would ensure “their service will be remembered with the gratitude and respect it deserves.” The National Park Service now cares for the site.

More than a decade in the making

The National Desert Storm Memorial Association worked for years to establish the memorial. Congress authorized it in 2014; further legislation in 2017 cleared the way for a National Mall-area location. Construction began in 2025, and the memorial was formally dedicated and opened to the public on October 24, 2026. The project cost approximately $40 million, according to the design firms.

For Alexandria and Northern Virginia residents, the memorial offers a nearby destination to explore the history of the Gulf War, honor its veterans, and share that history with a new generation. With Veterans Day approaching on November 11, it is a particularly timely addition to Washington’s landscape of remembrance.