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Alabama War Dog Memorial Dedication
11/11/08: Veterans Day, November 11th, 2008, at USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park,
a tribute was unveiled to canines that have served as alert dogs in the
military. The four-ton granite slab supports statues depicting a war dog, his
handler and other soldiers. The marble back side contains a listing of war dogs
associated with handlers from Alabama.
In front of the piece are boot prints made from an actual soldier's footwear,
along with paw prints. The idea, said John O'Malley, is that visitors can more
easily identify with the men and the dogs that have faced great danger during
battle. O'Malley, president of the Alabama War Dog Memorial Foundation,
said the $58,000 memorial took six months to design.
Memorial
Front Dedication Statement
“AN UNHERALDED BREED OF SOLDIER
LET ALL WHO READ THESE WORDS OF GRATITUDE AND PRAISE KNOW THAT TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF AMERICA’S FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN OWE THEIR LIVES TO THE DEEDS AND
COURAGE OF WAR DOGS AND THEIR HANDLERS, FURTHER, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT MANY
BREEDS OF DOGS, LARGE AND SMALL, SERVED OUR NATION IN TIMES OF WAR, ALL GOING INTO HARM’S WAY
WITH DISTINCTION AND VALOR –
UNHESITATING.
LET US NOT FORGET THESE UNSUNG HEROES ARE SOLDIERS,
TOO!THESE VALIANT DOGS PROTECT OUR MILITARY
MEN AND WOMEN THROUGH COUNTLESS PERILS, GIVE COMFORT IN UNCERTAINTY, AND SHARE
THE SUFFERING AND THE RISKS IN THE TIME OF WAR.OVER THE DECADES, MANY OF THESE DOGS HAVE MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE,
GIVING THEIR OWN LIVES TO SHIELD OUR ARMED FORCES AND MILITARY ASSETS FROM
HOSTILE ACTS.CANINES IN THE ARMED
FORCES CONTINUE THAT NOBLE TRADITION AROUND THE WORLD TODAY.
THIS MONUMENT IS DEDICATED BY THE PATRIOTIC PEOPLE OF ALABAMA FOR ALL TO BEAR WITNESS IN REMEMBRANCE TO THESE
FAITHFUL WAR DOGS AND THEIR ALABAMA
HANDLERS.THOSE WHO LEAVE THIS PLACE
SHOULD REMEMBER THE DEEDS AND SACRIFICES OF THESE FOUR-LEGGED SOLDIERS.FURTHERMORE, SEE IN EVERY DOG, THE
UNCONDITIONAL LOYALTY INHERENT IN WAR DOGS AND GLIMPSE A REFECTION OF THEIR
SHOULDER-BROTHERS’ HEROIC ACTIONS.THESE
TEAMS UNHESITATINGLY FIGHT FOR RIGHT AND FOR OUR NATION’S FREEDOMS.LEST WE FORGET, WE SHOULD HOLD THEM DEAR IN
OUR HEARTS AND HONOR THEIR COURAGE.”
The AWDM dedication ceremony was a great
success; it was a special day for Alabama
dog handlers, their day, to receive recognition for their service to the
country. The day was also to pay homage to the military working dogs (War Dogs)
that served by their side and continue to serve with America’s armed forces around the
world. We salute them, one and all.
Dedication Ceremony Overview:
Clark Memorials installed the Monument on Sunday, November 9th,
2008.
The dedication was held on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11th at
2:00 PM at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park.
Thirty board members and guests attended a special dedication
luncheon on the USS Alabama Battleship, John O’Malley present a history of
the AWDM and gave recognition to those who made a special impact on the
project.
Estimated 120-30 attended the outside dedication ceremony, standing
room only.
A dozen or so dog handler Veterans were present, plus many Veterans.
In addition, the Pensacola Naval Air Station sent two military
working dog teams to the dedication; MA2 Joshua Johnson, MA2 Danielle
Kiogina & Rick, MA1 Richard Hornsby, MA2 Adam Taylor & Drummo.
John O’Malley opened the ceremony and introduced Bill Tunnell,
executive director of the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park to welcome
everyone to the dedication and officially receive the monument.
Wade Franks, Bill Wigginton, and Roy Burchfield, AWDM Board members
and Vietnam
dog handlers, spoke about their experiences as dog handlers and their
dogs.
Wade Frank spoke about Little Joe, a stirring and quite moving
story; he brought the crowd to tears. Little Joe was the AWDM mascot and
represents all war dogs past and present.
The Homeland vocal group sang a heart pounding medley of patriotic
songs. www.homelandhitsusa.com
Lead by Roy Burchfield, the war dog handlers in attendance were
invited to advance and unveil the monument as a group.
Roy Burchfield read aloud the front plaque dedication to the crowd.
Bill Wigginton stepped forward to read the names of the seven Alabama war dog handlers killed in Vietnam.
After a name was read, a rose was placed on the monument for each of
the seven dog handlers that died in Vietnam; the person laying a
rose was either a family member or close friend, or a person with a strong
tie to war dogs and their handlers.
Next, Ron Gillespie, Vietnam Dog Handler, placed a flower bouquet
was at the paw prints in front of the monument to honor all war dogs, past
and present.
A moment of silence followed to reflect on our unsung heroes.
The Homeland vocal group closed the ceremony by singing our National
anthem.
To say the least,
the monument was awesome, the ceremony was very moving, and there were few dry
eyes in the crowd. The Dog Handlers and their K-9 soldiers had their day in the
sun. It was a great day to show one’s appreciation to our Veterans.
"There are many different kinds of war dog memorials," said
O'Malley, who served in the Marines but had no connection to war dogs.
"But I'm telling you this one is the best." O'Malley said
specially trained dogs can alert troops to enemy soldiers and booby traps as far
as a half-mile away.
AWDM Board members are working diligently to raise the
remaining funds to payoff the Alabama War Dogs Memorial erected at
the U.S.S.AlabamaMemorialBattleshipPark in Mobile on Veterans Day 2008. The memorial
depicts an actual Alabama
war dog team in action - Little Joe, a German Shepherd and his Alabamian
handler, Charles “Wade” Franks and other combat patrol riflemen. Little Joe-our
mascot-gave his life saving those men on February 22, 1970 in Vietnam.
One of only a handful of memorials like it across the nation, the memorial
honors the dogs and their handlers who have faithfully served and continue to
protect the men and women in our nation’s armed forces. Dog teams have served
most prominently since the early 20th century. For more information
or to make a donation, please visit the memorial project on line at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1374952666146021/ or click on the donate button
above.
William (Bill) Wigginton, Jr
USAF/USN Retired Alabama War Dogs Memorial Foundation Vietnam Dog Handler
Association Vietnam
Security Police Association
