Remembering and Honoring Our Veterans

Today is Veterans Day - on this 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, I write today's annual remembrance post to thank all those who have served our country, both human and canine.



Please take some time to watch this beautiful U.S War Dog Association's tribute to our military veterans and our K9 veterans on this (click on link to go to photo gallery) K9 Wall of Honor.

One does not typically think of the Siberian Husky as a war dog, but as I have written about in the past, according to the United States War Dog Association, in "January, 1942, not long after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the American Kennel Association and a new group calling itself 'Dogs for Defense' mobilized dog owners across the country to donate quality animals to the Army's Quartermaster Corps." Among the breeds used was the Siberian Husky. According to the United States War Dog Association, when the attack on Pearl Harbor took place on December 7, 1941, the United States military working dogs included 90 Siberian Huskies and Malamutes. 

"Buck" the Siberian Husky, the late War Dogs Ambassador.

 "These dogs were used as pack and sled dogs for rescue in areas of the world where motorized equipment could not go." --Our War Dogs, Buck's Heroes

For more information on the history of the War Dogs, visit the U.S. Army's Quartermaster War Dog page.

On Veterans Day each year, I'd like to also send a special "Thank You" heavenward to my Dad. He served with the U.S. Army's "Big Red One" First Division, and then his second tour with the Rainbow Division, 16th Infantry during World War II. Here he is pictured with two of his furpals he befriended during war time. He was my hero and a great lover of animals, and I miss him very much.

If you would like to adopt a retired Military Working Dog, and to see their beautiful tribute page, visit the private non-profit Military Working Dog Adoptions site.
 

So take a moment today to remember all of our veterans - human and canine - who have served and are currently serving today, and say "Thank You!" We will always remember our veterans.

For Our K9 Veterans and their Handlers, Thank You.
 



For our Human Veterans, Thank You.




And a warm Siberian Husky "Welcome Home" for this U.S. Marine Hu-dad!