Memorials and Memories
The second portion of 2024 has been significant for many reasons. Alongside the delivery of service to help retired MWDs in practical ways, we have also been busy supporting the K-9 community in other ways too. Our president, Chris Willingham, reflects on three special events this quarter that War Dogs has been proud to be a part of: the dedication of the K-9 memorial at Fort Drum, NY, the US Army’s Annual MWD Symposium in Michigan and the fourth annual US Marine Corps K-9 handlers’ reunion at Camp Pendleton, CA.
Memorializing our K-9 Heroes
When retired US Army colonel Christine Stark contacted US War Dogs to ask for help with a memorial that the K-9 team at Fort Drum had spent a decade working on, the board and I were intrigued to hear more about the project. As you may have read in our interview with Christine, the memorial took on new life when the Eddy family wanted to make a financial donation to the K-9 section on base, in memory of their late father, William Eddy.
When Christine volunteered to act as conduit between the family and the Army – utilizing her years of military service – plans were set in motion to connect the family with their aspiration to honor the MWDs that had served out of Fort Drum.
US War Dogs has a long history of supporting the dedication of monuments to honor K-9. It is part of our mission to raise the status and awareness of what our MWDs bring to the table and how their service has been pivotal in protecting our nation’s freedom. A monument has the power to do that and we are honored to have played a part in bringing this poignant tribute to life.
I was fortunate to attend the dedication ceremony of the monument in May, which was attended by base personnel and the Eddy family, who were both proud and emotional to see a permanent tribute to their father unveiled.
US Army MWD Symposium
The brainchild of US Army MWD Program Manager, Sergeant Major Viridiana Lavalle, the third annual US Army MWD Symposium took place in Alpena, MI, in May and by all accounts, was a runaway success. Over 250 members of the K-9 community, comprising military, law enforcement and civilian experts came together to share fellowship, knowledge and training sessions that will help to elevate the capabilities of our nation’s K-9s on all fronts.
US War Dogs took a vendor booth for the weekend and met scores of dog teams we’ve supported with care packages or specialized gear requests. Many handlers also had retired MWDs at home that are enrolled on our Rx Program too, and it felt really good to shake their hands and put faces to the many names on our support roster.
It also gave us the chance to educate those who weren’t familiar with our mission, on the work we do to support the K-9 community, which is always a hugely satisfying experience. We’d like to thank Sgt Maj Lavelle for having US War Dogs as part of the event – we very much look forward to returning in 2025.
US Marine Corps K-9 Handlers’ Reunion
As many combat veterans will know, true healing happens when you’re around those who understand and empathize with what you’ve been through. On Memorial Day weekend, we organised for over 70 former USMC dog handlers and five Gold Star families to gather for two days of brotherhood, camaraderie and fellowship. The reunion – which is now in its fourth year – is often the catalyst for healing as our K-9 brothers and sisters join together to remember their years of service, together with the Gold Star families of five fallen Marine dog handlers.
Fellowship and healing: Gold Star families joined current and former dog handlers for the reunion
This year’s reunion kicked off with a ‘feed the dogs’ event, held by our partners The Dawgs’ Project at the kennels of Camp Pendleton. The feed was attended by all current-serving dog handlers from the kennels, along with the reunion attendees. The Dawgs’ Project laid on a BBQ and lawn games to give everyone the chance to enjoy fellowship together with some great food. It’s a feed tradition for the oldest dog handler to feed the youngest handler in attendance: A symbolic passing of the baton to the next generation.
The Dawgs Project laid on a delicious meal and observed some much-loved traditions
Following a delicious meal, the group made the 1.5-mile trek into the hillside behind the kennels, to the dog handlers’ memorial: Eight crosses, bearing the names of the fallen dog handlers who were based out of Camp Pendleton.
Honoring our fallen: The dog handlers’ memorial in the hills behind Camp Pendleton, CA
The terrain was often covered in training exercises by the Marines who served out of the kennels and to retrace the steps of their fallen sons was especially poignant or the Gold Star families. Once the party arrived at the top of the hill where the crosses stand, a small number of Marines said a few words about their fallen brothers – sharing stories and keeping their memories alive.
Retracing the steps of lost sons, brothers and friends, up to the site of the USMC Dog Handlers’ Memorial
Sharing in grief and remembering the lives and legacies of our brothers lost in death was a cathartic experience. Some of the private moments shared between Marines and Gold Star families will stay in hearts and minds for a long time to come.
Honoring our fallen
Providing opportunity for veterans to take time out of their busy lives and commune with their military family is a privilege that isn’t afforded often enough and US War Dogs was proud to facilitate the event, which has become a calendar highlight for veterans and Gold Star families alike.
K-9 leads the way
