New Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial opens on National Mall

More than 35 years after the Gulf War, a new memorial dedicated to those who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm officially opened on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., WTOP reported. The National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial is located near the Lincoln Memorial at 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue NW.

The memorial honors American military personnel involved in the operations that led to Kuwait's liberation from Iraqi forces in 1991. Veterans and families attending the dedication reflected on their service and remembered those who did not return home.

Attendees included veterans like Angela Burton, who shared memories of her deployment to Kuwait, and Ann Dalton, whose husband died during Desert Storm. Dalton participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and praised the memorial's design, which incorporates elements similar to those of the World War II and Vietnam veterans memorials.

The event also provided an opportunity for veterans to reconnect after decades. Marine veteran Delaney Williams from Fredericksburg, Virginia, expressed hope to reunite with old comrades, while Dave Henderson, another Marine from Northern Virginia, highlighted the significance of the memorial's proximity to his home.