The Department of the Interior welcomed the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial to the National Park System with a dedication ceremony held on October 24, 2026. Situated on the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the site honors American service members who participated in the operations and the international coalition that liberated Kuwait in 1991. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said the memorial ensures their service will be remembered with gratitude and respect it deserves for generations to come.
The National Park Service describes the memorial as an oasis with curving walls representing desert sand dunes surrounding a shaded grove with trees and a water feature. Along the pathway, sculptural elements including a relief wall illustrate the conflict and Kuwait’s liberation while additional sculptures highlight the teamwork of coalition forces. Stainless steel figures of a bald eagle and a falcon symbolize the leadership of the United States and its allies in the effort.
Kuwait’s Ambassador Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah told attendees that the coalition’s sacrifices will never be forgotten and praised the enduring partnership with the United States. She noted that more than 35 years later the principles of sovereignty and international law that united the coalition remain critical. The ambassador addressed representatives from coalition countries present at the event.
The National Desert Storm Memorial Association developed the memorial with input from veterans, a process that took 16 years to reach completion. Scott Stump, the association’s chief executive and a veteran of the war, expressed gratitude to Kuwait and the Kuwait Banking Association for their support in realizing the project. The memorial cost approximately 40 million dollars to build.
Kuwait’s Defense Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah attended the inauguration and highlighted how coalition troops left their families to liberate a nation many had never visited. He stated that the country honors the memory of the fallen and salutes all who served in the campaign. His presence underscored Kuwait’s ongoing appreciation for the 1991 liberation.
The memorial’s design incorporates a path shaped like the “left hook” military maneuver and an inscription wall bearing quotes from General H. Norman Schwarzkopf and President George H. W. Bush. It lists the five branches of the US armed forces that took part in the operations. The site is now open to the public around the clock.
