The upcoming 35th anniversary of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm will be commemorated on March 6 at Veterans Memorial Park & Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum in Tampa, Florida, as announced by the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County in partnership with the Waterman-Twining Chapter of the Air & Space Forces Association. The event, set to begin at 10 a.m., is a gesture of remembrance and respect for those who served during these pivotal moments in our nation’s military history, stretching from August 1990 to February 1991.
The inaugural event will feature an honor guard presentation by the MacDill Air Force Base’s 6th Force Support Squadron. Additionally, Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), recognised as an aerospace expert and the principal attack planner for the coalition air campaign of Operation Desert Storm, will be the keynote speaker. The ceremony will also include special awards to local veterans from various branches of the U.S. military, as was detailed on HCFL.Gov. Notably, the deadline for award nominations is February 23, and candidates require to be residents of Hillsborough County with documented military service during the specified operations, including their ongoing contributions to fellow veterans and their families.
Following the ceremony, the community is invited to share in free refreshments and fellowship as an extension of appreciation not only for those who served, but for the unity forged in their honor. This gathering marks an opportunity for reflection and recognition of the robust community of veterans in Hillsborough County…