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Standing sentinel at the entrance to Arlington Memorial Bridge, two powerful bronze groups - Valor and Sacrifice - tell a story where horse and rider embody the deepest truths of war and remembrance. Sculpted by Leo Friedlander, these gilded
Art Deco works were first commissioned in 1929, delayed by history itself, and finally unveiled in 1951 as a gift from the Italian people in gratitude for America’s role in rebuilding their nation after World War II.
On the left, Valor depicts a bearded rider, symbolic of Mars, god of war, astride his horse. At his side strides a female figure, strong and forward - moving, shield upon her arm. Together, they embody the raw power and determination demanded by conflict. 
On the right, Sacrifice shifts the tone. Here, the same rider bows his head, a child cradled in his arms. The female companion, now turned, reaches back toward him and the horse. The scene is no longer one of conquest but of cost—of what war takes, even from the strongest.
The horses, integral to both groups, do not charge or rear. Instead, they stand steady, bearing the weight of symbolism as they have borne the weight of riders through centuries. They are vessels of strength and quiet dignity, anchoring both triumph and loss.
When dedicated, President Harry Truman stood beneath these statues and promised a future free from the burdens of old treaties and wars past. Today, they remain not just monuments of metal but lessons in balance: valor requires courage, sacrifice demands compassion, and the horse—faithful and enduring—carries both.
Lesson from Valor and Sacrifice: Horses are more than symbols of power; they are witnesses to both glory and grief, standing steady where human history turns.
Learn more about the Amazing connection with our equine friends Here!
