Thank you for attending the inaugural Salute to Service Reunion Celebration. It was an honor to bring together and reunite Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm veterans in recognition of their service and sacrifice. Save the date for the Vietnam Reunion on April 3, 2027 chaired by Commander Paul Galanti and Jamie Galanti.

Salute to Service will provide veterans and their families with a day of celebration and remembrance of a major conflict, all while fostering an atmosphere of peer support, camaraderie, and historical reflection.

The program will consist of speakers, moderated discussions, musical performances, and documentaries, providing rich context and a broad perspective of what Virginia veterans experienced in their campaigns and the people with whom they served. A wreath-laying ceremony and free time on the Virginia War Memorial’s grounds, located at 621 South Belvidere Street in Richmond, Virginia, will also allow veterans to remember and honor those who did not return. The shared history of veterans, and the public’s understanding of it, will be enhanced through individual oral histories, photographs, and artifacts.

Our next Virginians at War documentary, Decisive Victory: Operation Desert Storm, will feature interviews with Desert Storm veterans and their families, and will discuss the invasion of Kuwait, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and the lasting impact on the American public. The names and lives of the seven Virginia service members who were killed in action will be featured prominently.  This trailer contains scenes and themes that may be distressing or triggering to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised. 

Get a first look at Decisive Victory: Operation Desert Storm with this compelling trailer: https://vimeo.com/1123789321