Chris Kyle, the United States Navy SEAL and the author of American Sniper, was remembered recently with a giant bronze statue in the West Texas town where he was born in 1974 — Odessa.

There was also a granite and limestone plaza named after Kyle, with a ceremony that featured hundreds of Texans paying tribute to the late veteran along with his widow, Taya, who said a few words to the somber crowd.

The site also features trees from George W. Bush’s ranch. They were moved to the grounds this past winter.

Kyle and his buddy Chad Littlefield were murdered by a deranged Marine vet in 2013 at a gun range. The shooter is currently serving a life sentence.

Here’s some sights and sounds from the unveiling, which took place on July 28 …

Army Times