REMEMBERING OUR WAR DOGS ON VETERANS DAY...

In my internet travels, I found the picture and poem that graces this article. In your time today, as you say a prayer and remember the men and women that gave the last full measure of themselves in defense of our country...remember our military dogs. Dogs that until the 2000's were left to fend for themselves after we left the country we were fighting in...Vietnam. Korea. The Pacific Theater. Europe. Left behind. Because they were thought of as "military equipment" and when they weren't needed anymore...left behind.

Thank God our country has evolved enough to become aware that these dogs are much more than military equipment. They are warriors. Partners. Fellow fighters. Nowadays, when retired, they are decommissioned much as our soldiers are, and their handlers given the chance to adopt them first. Most of the time, that's what happens. They retire to a well-deserved retirement. Some work for a short time more in our police departments.

I always try to give a different perspective to what is happening around us, as it pertains to our service dogs. They are warriors too, and their contributions to our troops in all our conflicts cannot be measured. Semper Fi, warrior dogs... Always faithful.