Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial

The Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial is a new national monument that was approved by Congress and President Obama (HR 503) June 2014 to be built in Washington DC.  The National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial Act authorized the National Desert Storm Memorial Association, a 501(c)3 organization, to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia to commemorate and honor those who, as members of the Armed Forces, served on active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield. The Association has been led by a dedicated group of veterans from most branches of the military since 2011. In March of 2017, President Trump signed legislation authorizing the memorial’s construction to be within Area I. Then, in June of 2018, the site at 23^rd & Constitution was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, placing the memorial in very close proximity to the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

CSO has been an official partner of the project since its beginnings in 2012, preparing the first conceptual design for the project, working pro bono from 2012 to 2016. CSO is honored to have remained involved in the project throughout the subsequent site selection and concept design phases, due to our ongoing dedication and commitment to this historically important project.