Les Braves Sculpture

The Les Braves Sculpture and Monument Signal d'Omaha, located in the seaside town of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer in France, are a set of commemorative monuments dedicated to the heroes of the Normandy Landings of World War II, specifically the troops of the 4th and 5th US Infantry divisions. The iconic 8-metre-tall monument was unveiled in October 2004 by former US President George W. Bush and his French counterpart, Jacques Chirac. The monument consists of several bronze statuettes grouped around a 5-metre-high bronzed steel placard carved with the figures of five American soldiers. A long polished granite wall holds plaques engraved with the names of all members of the divisions who died during the war. The Les Braves Sculpture, located just nearby, was erected two years later by French sculptor Claude Jannin. The bronze figures of two soldiers carrying a wounded third man depict the strength and camaraderie of the troops. Together with the Monument Signal d'Omaha, these monuments commemorate the bravery of the troops and recall the heavy losses that the U.S. Army sustained in the landing in these shores.