Washington– Today, the bipartisan resolution to designate the location of the National Desert Storm War Memorial, an effort led by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN), was signed into law by President Trump.

Boozman said, “The men and women who served our nation in Desert Storm will rightly have a monument in a location of national significance that appropriately reflects their sacrifice. I’m pleased that Senator Donnelly joined me to champion this effort and fight for this tribute for those who fought for us. We are one step closer to making the vision of a national memorial for these brave men and women a reality.”

Donnelly said, “Now that our bipartisan resolution has been signed into law, our nation’s capital can finally host a fitting memorial to the brave men and women who fought and died for our country in the First Gulf War. I am proud to have spent the last several years working with Senator Boozman on this effort, and I look forward to the day when we can visit the National Desert Storm Memorial and pay our respects on behalf of Hoosiers, our veterans, and a grateful nation.”

Scott Stump, President and CEO of the National Desert Storm Memorial Association, said, “The President’s signing of the Desert Storm Memorial Resolution into law is the culmination of over four years of unwavering dedication, support, and hard work on the part of Senators Donnelly and Boozman. Without their efforts there would be no National Desert Storm War Memorial. I cannot thank them enough for all that they have done to make this a reality. Now we are able to move ahead and secure the definitive location for the Desert Storm Memorial in our nation’s capital, so that the valor, honor, sacrifice, and service of our Desert Storm veterans will be forever remembered.”

A native of Clay Township in St. Joseph County, Indiana, Stump attended Indiana State University and served as a Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps during Operations Desert Storm and Shield. In 2011, Stump had an idea to honor those he served with overseas. He then joined with two of his fellow servicemembers to co-found an organization in Arkansas, which became the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association. Over the past several years, Stump and the organization have advocated for an Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial and are raising the funds to construct it.

Now that the Area I location recommended by the Secretary of the Interior has been approved by both chambers of Congress and signed by the president, the National Capital Planning Commission will select the specific site for the memorial.

No federal funds will be spent to build this memorial. All funds will be raised privately by the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association. 

Boozman and Donnelly introduced the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial Act to authorize establishment of a National Desert Shield and Desert Storm War Memorial on federal lands within the District of Columbia in 2013. The bill was included in the National Defense Authorization Act and signed into law in December 2014.