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A Memorial Day Tribute to K9 Heroes

Wolf thanks all veterans.
While we all head off to enjoy Memorial Day whether it is by the beach or in our backyards, and are enjoying a fun-filled time with family and friends as we take in the wafting aromas of food being grilled on the BBQ, let us all pause to reflect upon the true meaning of the day: Memorial Day, a day to remember and honor those - both human and canine - who have fallen in the line of duty to protect our nation. 

The following are some videos honoring the four-legged heroes. (The third video plays automatically. To turn off the sound, just click on "pause" to that video until you are ready to listen to it).








During World War II, Siberian Huskies were among the breeds used as working war dog soldiers. Buck, a Siberian Husky pictured here, was the U.S. War Dogs Ambassador. He died March 23, 2006. Rest in Peace, Buck.

If you'd like to learn more about Buck and the War Dogs, you can visit Buck's Heroes.  A wonderful book of the same title is what's on the shelves here at FiveSibes. After reading the story, I purchased the autographed book and highly recommend it (this is a personal, non-compensated testimony). Filled with beautiful illustrations, the book's synopsis is:

Book illustration by Tonia Marynell
"On a splendid fall day some thirty years after serving in Vietnam as a dog handler, Johnny Mayo attends a reunion of former handlers and their families at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. He brings with him, Buck, his pet husky of 10 years. Buck accompanies his master to the polished black granite memorial wherein are inscribed the names of the 58,178 men and women who were killed or missing in action. While gazing at the wall by his master's side, Buck begins hearing and seeing the ghosts of the dogs who were participants in the war. His master's two beloved scout dogs along with many others tell Buck what life was like for them and the soldiers they served and protected. Buck and his master leave the memorial with a renewed sense of camaraderie and closure."

Please be sure to visit the U.S. War Dogs Association's K9 Wall of Honor to read about some of the heroes and their handlers, and also to view some memorials visit the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association's K9 Monuments page to read about these magnificent and loyal warriors. And for a great K9 cartoon called Fudge & Friends, check out today's blog entry at Life With Dogs.

                                                                                                       
The Soldier Dog  
by Joe Ferra 

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.

From the FiveSibes and I, we thank all of our soldiers and war dogs, and wish everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day.

Comments

  1. Such a lovely post! Our mommy gets all leaky when she sees dogs doing their job to rescue and protect us. They are so brave and so special too. We're thinking of all the brave soldiers, human and canine, today! Have a wonderful Memorial Day!

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  2. We dedicated our Hagerstown to Harrisburg leg to them - along with Gracie and Butchy -

    Thanks for sharing these great links!

    Khyra's Mom

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  3. We honor our canine brothers & sisfurs right alongside the peeps who serve bravely. (We'd salute, if we had hands!) Instead, we;ll just say "Wooooo-ooooo!"

    jack & moo

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  4. Great tribute to our canine heroes. We salute all of them for their service as well as all the men and women who served their country so well. Buck's Heroes sounds like a great book to read.

    Happy Memorial Day.

    Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

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  5. Great idea! Happy Memorial Day to you!

    Waggin at ya,
    Roo

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  6. Thinking of you all on your Memorial day, and all the dogs who've served so well along side their humans. Licks and woofs, Dex & Lou x

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  7. What a beautiful Memorial Day tribute to our fellow canine heroes! So much information that I did not know was out there. The videos are very good, and the book, "Buch's Heroes," looks like a great read. Thanks also for the links at the end of your post.

    Such an important, and informative, post. So nice to see the K9 heroes getting the recognition and honor they deserve. Thanks for posting!

    Hope all of you pups and your humans are having a very nice holiday!

    Suka and K

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  8. Hey Five Sibes!
    Wow, this is an amazing post. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. We should all give extra wags, slurps, snuggles to ALL vets today.
    Grr and Woof,
    Sarge, COP

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  9. Oh Sibes, Ma and I can barely see to type this. Our eyes are teary. This post is an AMAZING tribute to our soldiers, both canine and human. Thank you so much for posting it.
    Cairn cuddles to all, Oz

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  10. Happy and safe Memorial Day woofs & hugs!

    ~Bailey

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  11. What a wonderful post! We honour all of the K9's and the troops...past and present. Happy Memorial Day! Lots of love, Debbie & Holly

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  12. Thank you so much for sharing this post and these wonderful videos. I've heard canines are not officially included in Memorial Day so as to not take focus off the human sacrifice. I doubt anyone who has worked with them feels they are less worthy of our focus.
    May we always remember and give thanks.

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  13. What an amazing tribute. Thank you for posting this - I'm trying to type but my eyes are leaky. So many heroes - both 2 and 4 legged to whom we owe so much! Truly- thank you.

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  14. Thanks for reminding us of the contribution we four-leggeds have made to keeping our country free. Very powerful post.

    White Dog and The White Dog Army
    www.whitedogblog.blogspot.com

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  15. Create Free Online pet memorials in loving memory of your beloved pet. Just fill out our simple questionnaire wizard to create a memorial Page for your pet tribute.

    ReplyDelete

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