February 29, 2020 - Members of VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary honored Veterans of Operation Desert Storm during a ceremony held February 28, 2020.
Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, welcomed everyone to the event and opened with a prayer. Everyone present then recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Hume followed with a brief history of the operation.
"As part of the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm began on January 16, 1991. Coalition forces from 34 nations led by the United States began aerial bombardment of Iraq. This was in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait. A week later on January 24th, a ground assault began in the liberation of Kuwait and advancement in to Iraqi territory. Just 42 days later of relentless attacks by the Allied Coalition, in the air and on the ground, President Bush declared a cease fire on February 28, 1991 some 29 years ago. 148 Americans had died in battle and there were another 145 battle deaths and 467 wounded. From Operation Desert Storm, Shelby County has no known casualties, but we suffered some in the years that followed."
One Desert Storm Veteran was present for the event, Wade Jones, who was accompanied by his wife Tina and son Collyn.
Hanging a ceremonial wreath upon the Shelby County Veteran's Memorial was U.S. Army Veteran Robbie Hughes.
Taps was then played as presented by Gene Hutto, Post Commander.
