I recently had the pleasure of visiting with veteran military dog handler, Larry Chilcoat on Working Like Dogs at www.Pet LifeRadio.com. Larry, a member of the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association, stopped by to visit with me about the ongoing efforts to build a Military Working Dogs National Monument.
It is amazing the amount of work and dedication that a group of individuals led by John Burnham and Larry have contributed to erect the Military Working Dogs National Monument. Through their efforts, they have designed and secured a space for this national monument at Fort Belvoir, Virginia that will honor the heroic past, present and future United States military dog handlers and their incredible working dogs.
Larry explained the difference between a national monument (a living representation that can honor military dogs both past, present and future which requires Senate, Congressional and Presidential approval) and a memorial (a tombstone for people or dogs that are deceased). Larry and his team members gained a Congressional Sponsor in Congressman Walter B. Jones of North Carolina. With his help, they have completed the approval process which was signed into law by President Bush in 2008. Now, the group has to raise the more than $900,000 to pay for the construction and placement.
I could still hear the love in Larry’s voice as he talked about his 85-pound German shepherd, Military Police Dog, Gisha. He served with Gisha for one year in Vietnam and the impact this dog had on his life could be felt in the way he reminisced about her.
As Larry so eloquently said, she has lived in his heart for over 40 years.
Larry believes that he and other fellow veterans are now in a position to make a difference, to have a something permanent to honor these dogs for all time and to make a united statement that they are an important part of the U.S. Military. Larry said passionately, “The memories don’t go away, which is why it is so exciting to do something that will benefit a lot of handlers that don’t have this opportunity… we’ll put something out there for the nation to know what role these dogs play and how long they have sacrificed for our country and how many lives they’ve saved.”
These military working dogs do so much to save and to protect our country and the lives of their military handlers. The men and women who serve bravely beside their canine partners are the unsung heroes that provide us with the freedom we too often take for granted. Tentatively, a dedication date has been scheduled for Veteran’s Day 2012. If you would like to contribute a tax deductible donation to the Military Working Dogs National Monument, please visit their web site at www.jbmf.us. To hear more about the efforts to build this worthy Military Working Dogs National Monument, tune in to Working Like Dogs’ Episode 46 – War Dogs Remembered at www.petliferadio.com.
