Boot Monument, Revolutionary War memorial in Saratoga National Historical Park, US
The Boot Monument is a white marble memorial featuring a howitzer barrel decorated with a military riding boot and a two-star epaulette, standing roughly 4 feet (120 centimeters) tall. The sculpture shows an officer's left boot resting on the cannon barrel, symbolizing the moment of a severe wound sustained during battle.
The memorial marks the spot where a major general sustained critical leg injuries during the Battle of Bemis Heights in October 1777. This wounding occurred during the decisive second Battle of Saratoga, which marked the turning point of the Revolutionary War.
The sculptor chose to honor military courage without inscribing the officer's name, leaving visitors to discover the identity themselves through the boot and rank symbols. This silent treatment reflects a uniquely American tension between recognizing battlefield valor and condemning political treason.
The memorial sits at Stop 7 along the battlefield tour road within Saratoga National Historical Park, open from sunrise to sunset. Visitors can park in a nearby lot and take a short walk to the monument, which stands on a grassy hilltop.
No other war memorial in the United States honors a soldier while deliberately omitting his name. The right boot is absent from the sculpture because the officer never regained full use of his injured left leg and limped for the rest of his life.
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