Gouesnou US Memorial, in tribute to the American Heroes fallen in August 1944 (France)

The City of Gouesnou is located in Brittany, in the far Western France. In the vicinity of Brest, a port city whose harbour was at the time one of the most important in the country, our city particularly suffered during World War II. On August 7, 1944, the first day of the siege of Brest by the Eighth Army, 43 innocent people were murdered by German troops in the hamlet of Penguérec : this was the largest massacre of civilians perpetrated in Brittany during the War.

During the following days and until the beginning of September 1944, more than 210 G.I's belonging to the 2nd and 8th Infantry Divisions of the US Army fell in Gouesnou, in particular during the battles of Bourgneuf-Fourneuf and Kergroas.

Every year, the City of Gouesnou honor hero soldiers and civilian victims, because here in Gouesnou, we consider that it is our duty to remember the past for the sake of history and transmission, particularly to the youngest generation. So, the elected officials and residents of Gouesnou, in close collaboration with various associations, the local university and schools, strive to maintain and make accessible to as many people as possible the history of the Second World War, its victims and in particular the soldiers who fought to the point, for some, of losing their lives.

In order to make sure that we never forget and to avoid the recurrence of past tragedies, the City of Gouesnou has been multiplying initiatives : annual tributes to soldiers and victims, financing of historical research, organization of commemorative events for the general public, publication of a comic book.

In 2025, the year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory, the City of Gouesnou and the local Association Les Amis du Patrimoine has decided to show, in an even stronger way, its respect and gratefulness towards the American soldiers who fell during the summer of 1944 for its Liberation and that of all of France. Our project which got started last January, involves building a memorial in their honor, representing a life-size G.I., sitting on blocks of stone, holding his rifle in his hands. Behind him stands a monumental doorway symbolizing freedom and transition, the passage from darkness to light, the heavy sacrifice of these men who came from across the Atlantic to drive out the enemy and help us regain our Freedom. This monument will honor the memory of each of these men and will offer their families a true place where to recollect.

We would like to inscribe the names of all the soldiers who fell in Gouesnou on this memorial. For that purpose we continue to study, with historians, academics and volunteers, all available archives. We are also fortunate in being helped in our work by members of The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Fourndation, a contact made thanks to the American Society of Le Souvenir Français.

The inauguration of the Gouesnou's US Memorial is planned for next November. On this very special day, we hope to see the presence of the soldiers' families, as well as all those who contributed to its achievement.

The City of Gouesnou, Les Amis du Patrimoine and all their partners are proud to presented to the American public as part of a crowdfunding campaign whose purpose it is to supplement the funds provided by the City and French donors. We would consider it as a great honor if you accepted to support our project (estimated budget : $ 230 000) as it would certainly help us achieve our goal of building a memorial worthy of the American heroes who fell in Gouesnou, back in 1944, fighting for our Freedom.