KANSAS CITY, Mo. – April 11 marks the 35th anniversary of the formal end to the Persian Gulf War. On this milestone date, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) honors the nearly 700,000 military men and women who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
On April 11, 1991, less than 90 days after the U.S.-led campaign known as Operation Desert Storm began, the United Nations Security Council declared the conditions of Resolution 687 in effect, making the ceasefire official and formally ending the Persian Gulf War.
U.S. military personnel in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield, January 11, 1991.While decades have passed, the legacy of the American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who served in the Gulf War and ensured one of the swiftest, most decisive victories in U.S. history remains a cornerstone of modern military history.
However, the cost of this victory was significant. We must never forget the cost of war and the 382 who gave their lives, the 467 wounded in action, and that two service members' remains have yet to come home.
The VFW fought relentlessly to guarantee the passage of the PACT Act, and we remain committed to ensuring that those who served in the sands of Kuwait and Iraq receive the health care and benefits they earned.
On behalf of a grateful nation, the VFW honors all Gulf War veterans and remembers this momentous event for our country and for liberty. We continue to recognize the courage of these brave men and women who fought to liberate a nation more than 7,000 miles away from American shores, and whose service left an indelible mark on history.