First Public Memorial Renderings

National Memorial Montage

The National Desert Storm Veterans War Memorial

The design illustrations shown on this website for the National Desert Storm Veterans War Memorial are the result of a 20-month collaborative effort between the National Desert Storm War Memorial Board of Directors (NDSWMBD), numerous veterans of the war, CSO Architects, Inc., Context Landscape Architecture, and other citizen contributors who were affected by the war. During the process, the NDSWMBD and the Design Team (CSO & Context) sought a great deal of input from many stakeholders and from many veterans of the war. After months of research, surveys, contemplation and Board review sessions, the design team incorporated the Board’s and veterans’ heartfelt thoughts and suggestions directly into the memorial’s design in an effort to create a fitting, meaningful and memorable memorial experience for visitors and for those most affected by the war.

The Desert Storm War Veterans’ Survey

At the outset of the process, a survey was distributed to all Desert Storm veterans in the Board’s database. The survey was also posted on the Nationaldesertstormwarmemorial.org website in order to give an opportunity for all interested veterans to contribute their thoughts and suggestions. As many veteran opinions as possible were sought. The survey asked veterans the following 5 questions:

1. What do you believe was the most historically significant or important accomplishment of the Desert Storm War?

2. What do you believe should be remembered or memorialized for our descendants about this conflict for posterity?

3. What do you believe a National Desert Storm Memorial should look like?

4. What do you believe a National Desert Storm Memorial should symbolize?

5. Please share any other thoughts, stories, letters, photos or artifacts that you wish.

All of the survey responses were tabulated into a Summary Report and then studied carefully by the National Desert Storm War Memorial Board of Directors and by the Design Team. The following (6) ideas were found to be recurring themes that were repeatedly expressed by the surveyed veterans as important and which should be reflected somehow in the memorial’s design:
The historical significance of so many nations of the free world coming together for a common cause should be a focus of the memorial. The war effort was not a unilateral US effort, but rather a multinational coalition of 34 nations. It was suggested that the design might include a “roll call of nations” or 34 symbolic pillars.
The memorial’s design should somehow reflect or recreate the desert environment where the war was fought. It might include a rippling sandstone wall or sand dune-like element.
All of the names of the fallen should be engraved into the memorial. A gold star might be incorporated for each life that was lost.
The memorial should include a lifelike statue of soldiers wearing protective masks and chemical warfare protective gear.
The memorial’s design should illustrate the “Left Hook” maneuver that was used to flank the Iraqi forces.
Bronzes of the campaign ribbons might be incorporated.

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