FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
War Dog Memorial Fund, Inc.
877/WAR-DOGS (927-3647), 909/278-9727 (Fax)
War Dog
Memorial Unveiling at Fort Benning, Georgia
Sunday, October 8, 2000 at 11:00 a.m.
CORONA, Calif.
September 19, 2000 - Jeffrey Bennett,
president of the War Dog Memorial Fund announces their second War Dog Memorial
dedication. The ceremony will take
place at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia on Sunday,
October 8, 2000 at 11:00 a.m. Noted
historian and best-selling author, Dr. Stephen Ambrose is the featured speaker
joining other military, veteran and civilian leaders in honoring the dog and
handler teams that have served throughout military history.
Additionally, K9 teams from Fort Benning and law enforcement agencies
representing several Eastern and Southern states will participate in the
ceremony to show their support and respect.
Ambrose is the founder and president of the
National D-Day Museum in New Orleans and served as a historical consultant for
“Saving Private Ryan.” He has
written more than 20 books, numerous articles and has been a professor of
history for over 30 years. Always
showing respect and awe to the everyday soldier, Ambrose endorsed the
“American GI Joe” for TIME magazine’s Man of the Century poll.
Because most dog teams trained at Fort Benning
before serving in Korea and Vietnam, this memorial placement is especially
significant. The Scout Dog School at Fort Benning was the place a soldier
became a handler. More importantly,
it is where the handler learned his most critical lesson, the consequences of
not reading or trusting his dog. This
experience allowed the canine teams to prevent thousands of casualties and bring
many more soldiers home. The teams
are credited with reducing casualties 65% in Korea alone.
It is only fitting to place the War Dog Memorial at the very location
that helped them become so successful. As
Z. Frank Hanner, director of the National Infantry Museum says, “Fort Benning
is honored to have the War Dog Memorial on these hallowed grounds where so many
Infantry Platoon dogs and their handlers trained for combat.”
He adds, “It may be at the ‘Home of the Infantry,’ but this
monument is here for each and everyone that served.
I want each handler to know that they have a new home where they can come
to honor their fallen comrades and to renew their friendships with those who
survived.”
Creating a
memorial has been a mission of the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association (VDHA) for
nearly ten years. However, it took
working with the War Dog Memorial Fund, spearheaded by Jeffrey Bennett, to make
this goal a reality. The release of
“War Dogs…America’s Forgotten Heroes” in 1999 provided a vehicle to
reach the public and created awareness of the important role these canine teams
play in our history. When the
public learned that most of the dogs were abandoned at the end of the Vietnam
War, it tugged a heartstring and caused an emotional reaction.
The public’s
reaction to the film allowed the War Dog Memorial Fund to raise the necessary
funds to create and dedicate two War Dog Memorials in 2000.
World-renown sculptor, A. Thomas Schomberg created both memorials.
The first was dedicated this past February 21 at the March Field Air
Museum in Riverside, California. Randy
Kimler, president of the VDHA, “I’m excited that this project is coming to
fruition. It’s a dream of mine and many VDHA members that our dogs be
memorialized for their life saving efforts.
This dream is coming true for me thirty-one years to the day I set foot
in Vietnam.” Kimler will speak
during the upcoming ceremony.
The dedication on October 8, 2000 will be an
exceptionally moving ceremony as thousands gather to honor and recognize the
forgotten war dogs as well as the many veterans participating in the ceremony.
Jeffrey Bennett feels “The time has come for Americans to remember and
honor all of the veterans that have served our country during times of combat.
Once we, as a country, forget about the sacrifices made on our behalf we
become less worthy of the freedoms we enjoy daily.”
