More than 35 years after American troops deployed to the Persian Gulf, a new memorial honoring those who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm officially opened Saturday on the National Mall in D.C.

The National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial, located near the Lincoln Memorial at 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue NW, honors the Americans who served in the military operations that ultimately led to the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi forces in 1991.

For Gulf War veterans and families attending the dedication, the ceremony was a chance to reflect on their service, remember those who never returned home and reconnect with people they hadn’t seen in decades.

“The first thing that comes to my mind is pride. Very proud. Very proud of all these folks here,” Angela Burton, of Texas, told WTOP.

Burton was 25 when she deployed to Kuwait, and celebrated her 26th birthday while serving overseas.

“My soldiers gave me an MRE piece of cake with a match in it and gave it to me for my birthday, and it was wonderful,” Burton recalled.

For Ann Dalton of Ohio, the dedication was particularly personal.

Her husband, Kevin Dalton, was 29 when he died while serving in Desert Storm.

“I think it’s really special to have something there for the people that did serve, gave their lives, protected our interests and the interests of Kuwait,” Dalton said.

Dalton helped cut the ribbon at the dedication. She and her sons were among the first to see the completed memorial.

“It’s spectacular,” she said, praising how the design incorporates elements reminiscent of the World War II and Vietnam veterans memorials.

For others, Saturday’s gathering offered an opportunity to reunite with fellow service members.

Marine veteran Delaney Williams of Fredericksburg, Virginia, said he hoped to find some familiar faces among the crowd.

“Hopefully, I’ll see some of my other buddies. A lot of people I’m looking for now that I haven’t seen in 35 years,” Williams said.

Dave Henderson, another Marine veteran who served in Desert Storm, said the memorial’s location near his Northern Virginia home makes the recognition especially meaningful.

“It’s great to see everybody. Most people I do not know, never seen before, but we’re all family. We’re all here together,” Henderson said.

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