US War Dogs 25th Anniversary Event
Honoring Our Fallen
As is customary whenever we assemble our K-9 family together, we always take the time to remember those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. This formed an important part of our ceremony, with each detail thought out meticulously to honor our brothers and sisters and their families who attended the event on their behalf.
We were honored to be joined by 25 Gold Star family members, who took time out of their busy lives to join us in reflecting on the vital role that their sons, brothers and husbands played within the K-9 community. Their presence made this portion of the ceremony even more pertinent.
At the end of our program, US War Dogs president Chris Willingham invited four US Marine Corps dog handlers to read the names of fellow handlers across all branches of service, who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
K-9 salutes: Dog teams from each branch of service pay tribute to the memorials set up
As a piper started playing Amazing Grace, four active-duty dog teams began their slow march and salute to a traditional K-9 memorial: An empty kennel, upturned water bowl and bible – all placed next to a pair of boots, a rifle and helmet. Each dog team formed up in the center of the auditorium while the audience stood in silent contemplation for those they had lost.
As the last dog team formed up, the piper left the stage and War Dogs Chapter 3 founder, John Meeks, read Guardians of the Night. At this point, the handlers and dogs stood at ease, sharing pets and loving nudges, demonstrating perfectly the bond that the poem encapsulates.
War Dogs Chapter 3 founder, John Meeks, reads Guardians of the Night
Our president, Chris Willingham, commented: “Honoring our fallen handlers is something we take great care with and so, as part of this monumental event in our organization’s history, it was important for my team and I to get it right.
“I’d like to a heartfelt thank you to the Marines who read the names of the fallen; the dog teams who represented the four branches of service and to John Meeks, for delivering Guardians of the Night with such emotional honesty.
“Finally, I would like to thank all the Gold Star family members who joined us for the ceremony. You are a very special part of our K-9 family and we will always wrap our arms around you. I hope we were able to do your lost loved ones proud.”
Click to watch US War Dogs’ tribute to our fallen brothers and sisters:
