Honoring those who serve our country standing on 4 legs instead of 2

Heroes are those that stand in harm’s way to preserve our nation in times of war.  In addition to honoring the fallen men and women of the U.S. military this Memorial Day, please also remember a group of heroes that deserve our recognition and gratitude: dogs of the U.S. Military.

Since ancient times, dogs have been used in warfare as soldiers, messengers, trackers, search and rescuers, and scouts.  By the turn of the 20^th century and the start of World War I, certain dog breeds like German Shepherds, Labs, and Dobermans were being trained both in the U.S. and around the world.  In each war since WWI, the U.S. has used loyal and highly trained military working dogs for specialized duties in service to their country.

The U.S. War Dog Association estimates that American Military Working Dogs conservatively saved over 10,000 lives in Vietnam, and estimates that this number has likely doubled or tripled in Iraq and Afghanistan.  To honor those fallen heroes, the U.S. War Dog Assocation has created an online memorial at: http://www.uswardogs.org/id67.html

To close, here is a poem written by Joe Ferrar on January 11, 2008:

The Soldier Dog 

I was trained to use my eyes to watch and protect you from harm

My ears to alert you of impending danger like an alarm

My keen sense of smell to detect an enemy close at bay

Yes I was a soldier who gave my life so you could fight another day

So remember me as time goes by, this soldier dog so true

For I had only one life to give and I gave that life to you.