It was only one phone call. To hear Tim Jeffers ’87 tell it, that one phone call might lead to something special.

“Oh my gosh, it’s been a journey,” said Jeffers, a Principal at CSO Architects in Indianapolis.

That phone call set in motion a small but focused effort to turn an idea into the National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, a permanent tribute to the service members who fought in the first Gulf War.

Jeffers received that call from Lance Cpl. Scott Stump in December 2011, a Marine and Desert Storm veteran, whose dream was to create a national memorial honoring those who served in the Gulf War. He asked Jeffers, a veteran himself, for help.

“皇冠足球比分_澳门皇冠体育-在线|平台@ didn’t know what to do,” Jeffers said. “皇冠足球比分_澳门皇冠体育-在线|平台@ knew we needed something to show people, to get them excited, and to raise money and get this show on the road. And that’s what we did.”

He presented the idea to CSO’s Principal owners, including President Alan Tucker, all of whom agreed to provide some preliminary design services. Tucker turned to a fellow CSO partner, Randy Schumacher, for assistance in creating a design. From the start, the memorial was shaped by input from Desert Storm veterans. Schumacher conducted a survey, asking service members what imagery resonated most with their experience.

Two themes emerged: the strategic “left hook” maneuver that led to victory and the vast desert landscape. Inspired by these insights, Schumacher began sketching a curved wall—symbolizing the famed battle strategy—designed to provide a contemplative space shielded from the surrounding noise of the National Mall.

Over time, the design evolved, taking on a more abstract, yet deeply symbolic form. The final memorial will feature two sand dune-inspired walls, enclosing a contemplative space with three core elements: Storm Wall, a bas-relief carving that tells the story of the Gulf War; Inscription Wall, honors service and sacrifice; and the Unity Fountain, a 28-foot bronze shield recognizing the 39 coalition nations that fought together.

“I never thought I was going to design a memorial for the National Mall,” Schumacher said. “I wanted to give them the best darn design I could. I wanted to push the ball as far down the field as I could.”

Aside from the design, a significant hurdle along the journey was securing a location. The process took nearly four years as the team navigated the bureaucracy of eight federal agencies. Their persistence paid off, and they ultimately secured a prime site at 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue—right along the path of the Gulf War victory parade—and near to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and its nearly five million annual visitors.

Raising the $40 million required to build the memorial proved to be another formidable challenge, as the memorial had to be entirely privately funded. Stump and his team—composed entirely of Desert Storm veterans—were not experienced fundraisers, yet they pressed on. It’s been a rank and file effort.

“Scott is a Marine through and through,” said Schumacher. “His entire board are veterans of that war. They aren’t generals, they aren’t lawyers or politicians, and they weren’t fundraisers. But they are dedicated and they’ve worked their butts off for 14 years.”

The project is now in its final stretch with construction having commenced in March 2025. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in 2022, and with a final push, the team hopes to have the National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial completed in time for America’s semiquincentennial in July 2026.

For Jeffers, Schumacher, and the entire team, this memorial is more than just a professional project—it’s a labor of love and duty. As the dedication ceremony approaches, they reflect on the journey with a mix of pride and appreciation.

“I never imagined I’d be part of something like this,” says Jeffers, who majored in political science. “It’s been one of the hardest things I’ve ever worked on, but also one of the most rewarding. This memorial is for the veterans who served, for the families who lost loved ones, and for future generations to understand what happened.”

Schumacher echoes the sentiment, acknowledging the work that remains. He remains hopeful and deeply honored to have played a part in shaping history through years of persistence, focus, and shared effort.

“It’s been a wonderful team effort,” said Schumacher, “just an incredible honor.”