Old Black Bear will host a social event on Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. to commemorate the end of the Persian Gulf War. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON COUNTY – Redstone-Huntsville Chapter of Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) is sponsoring events in Huntsville and Madison to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the end of the Persian Gulf War.

Old Black Bear Brewing Company at 212 Main St. in Madison will host a public social event on Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. Food and drink will be available for purchase. This gathering will not include a formal program.

“Glasses will be raised and toasts made to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces,” AUSA spokesperson Max Bennett said. “Short impromptu speeches are expected.”

In addition, a formal, free commemoration ceremony will be held on Feb. 26 at noon at Veterans Memorial Park on Monroe St. NW in Huntsville. In case of rain, the event will move to the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville-Madison County, 225 Church St. in Huntsville.

The 30-minute program will include singing of “The National Anthem,” invocation, brief remarks from Team Redstone and the war’s timeline and casualties. Madison Mayor Troy Trulock, a retired lieutenant colonel and Gulf War veteran, and the Army Materiel Command Band will attend.

“AUSA salutes men and women of the armed forces who answered their country’s call,” coordinator Max Bennett said. “Following the orders of their civilian leaders, the Armed Forces of the United States led coalition forces from 34 other nations against Ba’athist Iraq in response to Iraq’s illegal invasion and annexation of Kuwait.”

“The war began with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invading the country of Kuwait over oil,” Trulock said. “The U.S. and coalition forces first moved into Saudi Arabia to defend that country from an Iraqi invasion (Operation Desert Shield). Then, coalition forces moved into Kuwait to remove Iraqi forces and return the country to the Kuwait leadership (Operation Desert Storm).”

AUSA, a nonprofit educational association, supports a strong national defense with emphasis on the role of the U.S. Army.

For more information, call Bennett at 256-682-6522, email max.bennett@gd-ms.com or visit ausaredstone.org.