Touching monument to nameless feathered heroes (7 photos)

This statue is dedicated to the thousands of nameless winged heroes who faithfully served their country and died for it during World War I.





Many people, passing in front of this monumental six-meter monument, initially do not even think about the unknown heroes of World War I whom it honors - the homing pigeons of France.



The statue guards the entrance to the Lille Zoo. It shows the world, represented by a woman, freeing a flock of doves. Below her, a shield crushes a snake. The reptile symbolizes the aggressor. The bas-relief depicts warriors using birds as messengers in a last attempt to contact the outside world.





In 1936, the National Federation of Pigeon Fanciers erected this monument in honor of the nearly 20,000 birds that served and gave their lives during the Great War. It also commemorates the pigeon fanciers who were executed by the enemy for their participation.



During World War I, birds swooped through the skies, carrying out missions to transmit important intelligence. Forces on both sides tried to control these celestial messengers. In Nazi-occupied territories, civilians were ordered to shoot pigeons to reduce the presence of feathered messengers in the sky.



A plaque in memory of Valiant

One of the most famous French carrier pigeons to serve during the Great War was a bird named Valiant. Despite being badly wounded and gassed, he managed to carry a message from distressed French troops at the Battle of Verdun before dying in his dovecote.



Later technological advances eventually made fighting birds virtually obsolete. However, the Nord department of France still helps to preserve the pigeon breeders' heritage, as both professionals and amateurs are still involved in training the birds.