About
Since our official founding in 1996, VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association has gathered annually to foster camaraderie between Desert Storm vets and our families, to preserve our shared memories, and to honor those who did not return home from the desert with us.
Friday Tours
A new addition to the agenda, we’ll depart the hotel via provided motor coach and make our way to the Army Museum at Fort Belvoir where we’ll have the opportunity to tour this spectacular new museum honoring our Army. Afterwards we’ll head back to Washington D.C. where we’ll have the opportunity to visit the site where the National Desert Storm War Memorial will be constructed. We’ll also have the opportunity to visit other monuments and memorials in the area (Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Korean War Memorial, WWII War Memorial).
General Membership Meeting
On Saturday morning, the VII Corps DSVA board will lead a general membership meeting. All members of the Association are encouraged to attend and participate.
Gulf War Veterans Forum
After the General Membership Meeting, we will host the inaugural VII Corps DSVA Gulf War Veterans Forum. This event is answering the desire of our membership and allows us to join forces with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to provide information and real-time responses to Veterans questions and concerns. During the forum VA officials from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) & Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) will address our membership on current issues important to Gulf War Veterans and conduct Q&A with those in attendance.
Memorial Service
Each reunion weekend includes a Memorial Service during which we honor our 111 fallen soldiers by reading their names aloud.
Reunion Dinner
The Memorial Service is followed by a Reunion Dinner. Over the years we have been fortunate to have many distinguished Soldiers and leaders who served with us or were key to the success of Operation Desert Storm. Speakers at our Reunion dinners have included:
- Former President George H. W. Bush
- Former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney
- Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell
- Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey
- General Dave McKiernan
- General Ray Odierno
- General Paul E. Funk II
- Our own General Fred Franks
- Lieutenant General Tom Rhame
- Army Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki
- Vice Chief of Staff of the Army General Jack Keane
- Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel A. Dailey