Michigan War Dog Memorial

Location: Lyon Twp. Michigan
Sculptor: AmVets-Post 2006 took the lead, Several VSO's followed.
Dedicated: 11/19/2011
 

In the spring of 2010, I was told of a War Dog monument that was located back in a wooded area. My trusted companion Cody, a German Shepherd, and I went looking for it. It could not be seen from the road so we parked the car and walked. Sure enough we found it, it was in terrible shape. At our next AmVets meeting I explained to the membership what we had found and requested a detail to start cleaning up the site. I also contacted all the VSO's in the area and invited them to the work detail. I next did some research at the town hall and found this site was established in 1932 as a pet cemetery.

 

In 1946, after the towns people heard about how heroic the Military War Dogs were in WWII and the lives they saved, erected the War Dog monument. I also learned a War Dog named Sgt. Sparks is buried there. Sgt. Sparks fought with the Marines in Guadalcanal in 1943.

 

I was totally elated when, on the first clean up Saturday, military veterans, dog club members and towns people came for a common cause to restore this hallowed ground from further degradation and bring it back to it's former grandeur. The details continued on selected Saturday's for the next two years. At no time did we ever have a lack of people to work.

 

On November 19, 2011 we held a dedication at the War Dog Memorial monument with a full color guard, a flag line by the "Patriot Riders", a prayer was read by a US Navy Veteran and I was chosen to read the dedication. We also had the local German Shepherd Club members, with their dogs, attending to show their respect. It was a great ceremony and a great day as we all could say "Mission Accomplished".

 

A special "Thank You" goes out to all the volunteers who gave up their Saturday's during this time frame, because they made it happen.

 

Phil Weitlauf

US Army Veteran

 

 

During our dedication ceremony US Navy Veteran Ed Merritt, American Legion-Post 216 Chaplin, read a War Dog Memorial prayer as follows:

God, we are gathered here today for a dedication to our silent heroes.  Heroes that have given our military their friendship, their Love, and their loyalty. Heroes that, when given the commands, went willingly.  God, those silent heroes are K-9's.  Please bless not only those K-9's that returned, but those K-9's that died in action giving their lives to save others, and those K-9's that are still MIA.

God, we ask for your blessing to our many volunteers who have given of themselves to make this cemetery a true memorial to these silent heroes. Almighty God, we ask that these brave silent heroes not be forgotten for their HONOR, their VALOR, and their SACRIFICE'S.

AMEN

 

War Dogs have been credited with saving the lives of thousands of American soldiers. There are only eighteen War Dog Memorial sites in the country, one of which is in South Lyon, Michigan. This feature pays tribute to man's best friend.   Special thanks to Phil Weitlauf---U.S. Army Veteran- 1962-1968- Vietnam Era.

Click HERE to view a 3 minute video about War Dogs.

 

Click HERE to view photos and read the story behind the cleanup and re-dedication of this War Dog Memorial.  This article name is "Three TCIA Companies Take Part in Pet Project".

 

Click HERE to view more photos and read another story behind the cleanup and re-dedication of this War Dog Memorial.  This article name is "The Arboriculture Society of Michigan's (ASM) 'Day of Service'

Click HERE to view the Kenneth E. Reynolds 'After Event Report' posted in the Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch Newspaper posted on 03/11/2013.

Click HERE to enjoy 455 Photos of the Michigan War Dog Memorial K-9 Veterans Day Event.

Credits go to Jane and Jack Purslow.

Click HERE to view latest updates and photos through 06/16/2016 from Phil Weitlauf.