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Hinesville Gulf War veteran to march in National Memorial Day Parade
Event to highlight 25th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm
National Desert Storm War Mamorial

Twenty-five years ago, more than 600,000 service members took part in Operation Desert Storm, at the time the largest deployment of U.S. Armed Forces since Vietnam.

Paul Sheldon, then an E-4 (specialist), from Hinesville was one of those who left friends and family behind to serve in Desert Storm. On Monday, he will be among more than 500 Gulf War veterans marching in the American Veterans Center’s National Memorial Day Parade in Washington.

The veterans were invited to participate and reunite at the parade thanks to the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association, which has a mission to honor the legacy of the Gulf War by building a monument in the nation’s capital to the 383 service members who were killed during the war and honoring those who served.

“While foremost our mission at the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association is to build a monument to our fallen brothers and sisters, we are also committed to honoring the many hundreds of thousands of men and women who left homes, jobs and families to stand up for America’s values,” said Scott Sump, found, president and CEO of the association. “We are so glad that veterans like Paul Sheldon are marching with us to teach Americans about the service and sacrifice made by all veterans of Operation Desert Storm.”

Sheldon and other veterans will follow part of the same route service members returning from the Middle East marched 25 years ago. Like their comrades of the past, the veterans will be cheered by thousands.

In 2014, Congress passed legislation, which President Barack Obama signed into law, approving construction of the National Desert Storm War Memorial in Washington. Since then, the association has been working to build the monument and aims to raise millions of dollars needed.

To learn more about the association and its participation in the Memorial Day Parade, contact Fred Wellman at 202-957-2688 or fred.wellman@ndswm.org. To learn about the American Veterans Center’s parade, go to www.americanveteranscenter.org/avc-events/parade

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