07/27/2026
The first day of the Shell Show and Festival and Show in March 2026, the Sanibel Shellcrafters were approached by Stephen Wener from Collier-Lee Honor Flight who had an idea for a model of the National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial. His idea was to create this model primarily of shells to present to the designer of the Memorial, as he was a Seashell Lover. One of the Sanibel Shellcrafters newest recruits, John Khouri was happy to participate in the making of a model. John has had a great imagination and took on this challenge with great enthusiasm. What he created is a model he can surely be proud of that has been a labor of love for the last four months.
You can see the model at the Sanibel Community House in the Main Lobby as it will be displayed there for the next Month. Come by and see the tremendous detail, and remember, most of it was created from Shells!!
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The National Desert Shield & Desert Storm Memorial
The National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial is being built in Washington, D.C. to honor the men and women who served. Located on the Mall at the corner of Constitution Avenue NW and 23rd Street NW.
Operation Desert Shield is when Iraq invaded Kuwait. Operation Desert Storm is the liberation of Kuwait. Thirty-five nations successfully liberated Kuwait.
The approximately one-acre memorial is designed as a peaceful setting, while curved walls, inscriptions, and sculptures guide visitors through the history of the conflict.
Collier-Lee Honor Flight met Scott Stump, CEO and President of the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, during a presentation at the Honor Flight Summit in Washington, D.C.. We were surprised to learn that Scott is not only a champion for the Gulf War veterans but also a long time visitor to Sanibel and a fellow sheller!
What started as a simple idea to send Stump a few Sanibel shells quickly grew into something extraordinary. After connecting with the talented Sanibel Shellcrafters, inspiration struck. We decided to create a one-of-a-kind tribute worthy of Stump’s dedication and the memorial he has worked so hard to create.
The result is a miniature rendition of the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, handcrafted from over 700 shells. Each shell symbolizes 1,000 veterans, totalling the 700,000 veterans who served in the Gulf War. It’s a piece filled with meaning, creativity, and Southwest Florida heart.
During the next Collier-Lee Honor flight mission, this special shell-crafted memorial will be presented to Stump in Washington, D.C. on October 10. Two weeks before the official dedication and opening of the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial to the public.
The memorial is scheduled to be dedicated on October 24, 2026.
