In Memoriam....
Memorial Day is a federal holiday setting aside one day to specifically honor the men and women who have or are serving in the United States Armed Forces. Over the past few days leading up to the 2014 event there have been a number of stories regarding honoring our hero's versus the annual excuse for a long weekend of partying. I myself enjoy rest and relaxation so I am not condemning anyone's choice of how to spend this time. I do take this holiday seriously but I also take it in a different direction than most.
This past week a friend sent me a news article regarding a continued debate in a regional publication between a journalist who considers the human/canine bond something of a joke and dog owners who take their canine family members to a level bordering on fanaticism. I am one of those people who could be considered a fanatic so do not expect me to be critical of the "nice dog ladies" dressing up their "fur babies" and taking them out in strollers. The way I differ from the journalist and the fanatics is I consider hero's to come in many forms and during this day of honoring those who personify or canineify (not a real word but should be) I wish to use this entry to illustrate many hero's who have received very little recognition.
First, over the past few years we have seen the passing of the Native American Code Talkers. From 1942-1945 this group effectively shared intelligence regarding enemy action in the Pacific during WWII. Until 1968 the role these men played in the outcome of military action in the Pacific was considered classified. That means it went without public acknowledgement. I suspect many people were unaware of these hero's until the movie Wind Talkers was released. I find it sad their passing has gained so little attention. My dad served in the Navy and did his tour in the Pacific during WWII. I feel personal gratitude to the Code Talkers because I feel they played one of the most significant parts in insuring he came home.
Another group of hero's going relatively unnoticed is the military dog handlers and their dogs. Until recently military dogs were either destroyed or abandoned at the end of deployment. At the end of the Vietnam conflict a story relating the pain the handlers experienced when faced with the choice of leaving their dogs to the Viet Cong or euthanizing them was shared, again without notice.
Earlier this year I entered into a discussion with someone who felt these dogs were unfairly exploited because dogs are not given choices when entering into dangerous situations. This person went on to condemn the handlers sending these dogs into areas where they could well be facing a death sentence. When I pointed out Search and Rescue dogs were cut from the same cloth this person mentioned she did not feel SAR dogs were put in equal danger and those handlers were not to be condemned as she was condemning the military handlers. This is a false notion held by someone with no actual knowledge of working dogs or those who handle them.
ALL working dogs and their handlers are heroes in my book. These are the men and women who face dangers most of us will never experience in our lives. I have been blessed to know many of these incredibly dedicated handlers and have lent time in volunteering to help them train. To condemn either of these groups is to do a grave disservice to some of the bravest individuals you will ever meet. Do not under estimate the dangers faced by our Search and Rescue teams when deployed to catastrophes such as the aftermath of storms like Katrina or the tornado that ripped through Joplin or the manmade disasters represented by the bombing in Oklahoma City or New York on September 11.
In the world of the American Pit Bull Terrier there have been two stories within the past couple of weeks of dogs representing the power of the human/canine bond.
The first came on May 17 when service dog Cletus walked in a graduation ceremony at Idaho State University, accepting the diploma for his deceased handler Joshua Kelly. Josh died due to complications of epilepsy in February. Cletus not only represented the enhancement of quality of life for Josh but he also presented the spirit of this magnificent breed. I have read this account numerous times and have yet to keep my eyes dry.
On May 20 Alex, a certified therapy dog also Pit Bull, was the first canine to receive the Crystal Apple award of achievement for his part in enhancing the learning experience of special needs children in the Amherst Village Exempt Schools. This school is located in Ohio which was one of the first states to condemn this breed without any real knowledge of what a Pit Bull is and a state moving toward ending a prejudice based on fear and ignorance.
All of these individual and dogs plus those who continue to work everyday insuring we are safe or our lives are better because of the service they provide are heroes in my book. That is why on this Memorial Day I wish to express my gratitude and undying respect for ALL those brave individuals, both two legged and four legged, who have gone relatively unnoticed in their contributions to the preservation of the freedoms we enjoy every day.
God bless each and every one!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_talker
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/25/oneidas-code-talkers-posthu...
http://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front_page/article_a3458572-e3ab-11e3-a929-00...
http://k9pride.wordpress.com/tag/military-dog-tribute/
http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-rescue-dogs-from-911.php
http://www.fema.gov/canines-role-urban-search-rescue
http://www.dogheirs.com/elleng/posts/5576-service-dog-picks-up-diploma-on-behalf...
http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2014/05/pit-bull-wins-top-volunteer-award/
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