FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
War Dog Memorial Fund, Inc.
877/WAR-DOGS (927-3647), 909/278-9727 (Fax)
War Dog
Memorial Unveiling at March Field Air Museum
President’s
Day, 2/21/00 at 11:00 a.m.
CORONA, Calif.
February 18, 2000 - After a successful year of raising funds and
national awareness of the important role canines play in our military
history, Jeffrey Bennett, President of the War Dog Memorial Fund is
dedicating the first of their War Dog Memorials at March Field Air Museum
located in Riverside, Calif.
The
ceremony will begin at 11:00 am on Monday, February 21, 2000.
In addition to the attendance of many veteran dog handlers, support
will be shown by law enforcement, military and veterans groups throughout
California and the western states. The
promoters expect attendance to reach several thousand.
Justice Ming W. Chin of the California Supreme Court is the featured
speaker and the ceremony is sure to be touching, and will, at long last,
honor these forgotten canine heroes.
An
outpouring of public support occurred after last year’s release of “War
Dogs…America’s Forgotten Heroes.”
This documentary, co-produced by Jeffrey Bennett and GRB
Entertainment, told the often heart-warming and sometimes heart-wrenching
look at the war dogs of Vietnam. It aired originally on the Discovery Channel, and has since
been broadcast worldwide on the National Geographic Channel and other cable
channels as well as on network television in New Zealand. Because of this exposure, the War Dog Memorial Fund has been
able to raise most of the needed money to build two war dog memorials.
The first being placed at the March Field Air Museum.
The Museum site was selected because of its excellent accessibility,
high visibility and commitment to honor and preserve military history. The March Field Air Museum attracts nearly 100,000 visitors
annually and they are sure the War Dog Memorial will attract even more.
The memorials were created by world-renown sculptor, A. Thomas
Schomberg and they serve to commemorate and recognize ALL dog and handler
teams that ever served in battle. Not only is the museum receiving the War Dog Memorial, they
plan to display a K9 exhibit inside as well.
The memorial and display will help ensure these heroes are forgotten
no more.
“Finally, our dogs will be honored for time immemorial,” said the
VDHA’s Mitchell. “The
inscription on the memorial describes what we---their handlers---have held
true in our hearts for more than three decades:
‘They protected us on the field of battle.
They watch over our eternal rest.
We are grateful.’”
