Events

Fort Walton Beach Chamber to commemorate 35th anniversary of Desert Shield, Desert Storm

The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce will honor Gulf War veterans with distinguished military leaders as speakers at a Feb. 28 event.

Ashley Ward

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The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce will host Honoring Our Heroes: A Salute to Service on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Rigdon Center to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

The event, beginning at 5 p.m., will recognize the service and sacrifice of those who served during the Gulf War.

Gen. Charles Albert “Chuck” Horner will serve as special guest speaker. Horner led coalition air operations during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, playing a central role in defining modern military airpower.

Lt. Gen. Marshall B. “Brad” Webb will serve as master of ceremonies. Keynote speakers include Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, a principal architect of modern air campaigns, and Dr. John Andreas Olsen, an internationally recognized military historian and strategist.

“For the past 15 years, our Chamber has been proud to honor local military heroes while helping our community better understand the history behind their service,” said Ted Corcoran, CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. “The Desert Storm commemoration is especially meaningful to me. Many Chamber members served during this time, and they are people I now know personally and consider true heroes. This event will honor their service while continuing to educate our community about our nation’s role in global conflicts.”

The event is sponsored by Odyssey, Eglin Federal Credit Union, BitWizards, Florida Power and Light, Okaloosa Gas District, FastSigns, Thrive Wellness, Forever Warriors, Boeing and Live Oak Fiber.

For additional information, contact the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce.

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