Senator Boozman spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.

WASHINGTON–– U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) celebrated the groundbreaking of the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial on Thursday.

“One day a memorial will stand in this location as a symbol of reverence to and respect for the veterans and their families, and help teach future generations about this important moment in our nation’s tradition of fighting tyranny. It’s critical we reflect on this episode and those who willingly set out to answer this call. I am honored to join this groundbreaking as we acknowledge the efforts of so many people and the incredible support of the community to recognize these heroes,” Boozman said.

Boozman and former Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN) spearheaded the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial Act in 2013 to authorize a memorial in the nation’s capital. A provision to create the national memorial was included in the National Defense Authorization Act in 2014 that was signed into law.

Building on that momentum, the senators advocated for a prominent location near the nation’s other war memorials through legislation that became law in 2017.

“I’m proud to have played a small role in helping make this memorial a reality, but the hard work was done by those whose service and sacrifice will be memorialized here for generations to come,” Boozman said.

The senator has championed other initiatives to honor those who have fought on behalf of our nation in foreign conflicts, including efforts to authorize a Wall of Remembrance to be added to the Korean War Memorial. The project was approved in 2016 and is expected to completed late this summer.

Learn more about the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial. Click here to watch the groundbreaking ceremony.