Will there be names of the fallen on the Memorial?
We have received questions and feedback regarding whether the names of the fallen will be included on the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial.
Your opinions matter deeply to us. They have shaped the vision of this memorial from the beginning, and we have carried your concerns with us every step of the way.
Since 2015, we’ve worked closely with key federal agencies that are essential to the memorial’s progress in Washington, D.C. These partners have consistently advised us against including individual names on the memorial.
The enabling legislation, passed in December 2014, authorizes the National Desert Storm Memorial Association to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia to honor those who served on active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
Our mission is to honor all who served. While the Vietnam Veterans Memorial powerfully lists names as a form of mourning and healing, our memorial tells a different story—one that reflects a decisive moment in history when America stood at its best.
There are several important reasons why individual names will not be included on the memorial:
Legislative constraints: We would be required to list only those who died within specific dates defined by law. This would unintentionally exclude many who died outside those timeframes, creating an incomplete and potentially divisive remembrance.
A different legacy: The Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial is not intended to measure the impact of the conflict by casualties. Instead, it honors a collective legacy of service, unity, and sacrifice. Our Board of Directors, design team, and federal partners all agree that this historical moment is best commemorated through a broader narrative, rather than a listing of individual names.
As construction progresses and the final commemorative details are carefully completed, we want to reassure you that those who lost their lives during Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm are being honored with the utmost respect and intention. While individual names will not be inscribed, a meaningful commemorative feature will stand as a powerful tribute.
Prominently positioned within the memorial, two intricately detailed, interwoven wreaths carved in granite will serve as a solemn symbol of remembrance: the left wreath will honor those who gave their lives in Operation Desert Shield, and the right will pay tribute to those who died during Operation Desert Storm.
This memorial represents many forms of sacrifice: those who gave their lives in theater, those who passed away later from related causes, and those still carrying the physical and emotional toll of their service.
We are grateful for your continued support and patience. This process is complex and deliberate. Every decision has been made with profound respect for those who served, and with the goal of ensuring the full legacy of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm is rightfully remembered.
