SwiftVets.com

[The bandit]

Wouldn't the DOD be the route to submit a memorial proposal since they would be responsable for funding and support of dog training and service?

[War Dog]

In order for it to be a 'National' memorial, we have to have bills voted upon and passed by both the House and the Senate in Congress. Then it has to be signed into law by the President. Once that is done, then we can go to the National Park Service and get permission to put our memorial on the Mall. We're pushing to be near the Wall, but I doubt that will happen.

If we go to DOD, all they can do is support and authorize a memorial which wouldn't be a 'National' one, and more than likely would only be located at Lackland, AFB, were the DOD dog school is located. But, we are also working on having each state pass a resolution supporting a National War Dog Team Memorial. So far, we've got four states that have passed this, and five in the works, with only 41 more to go.

Once Congress passes our bills, and the President signs it into law, we can go national with merchandise sales, corporate sponsors, mass media campaigns, etc...

Woof!
_________________
"When people are in trouble, they call the cops.

When cops need help, they call the K-9 unit."

[The bandit]

War Dog, do you have anyone in congress who has prepared a bill to submit, or in the process of preparing a bill to submit before the house?

[War Dog]

We are still trying our best to get sponsors in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. With this being an election year, plus all the other hearings and investigations going on, it's real tough to get any of these Senators and Representatives to back us. That's why on the website for the memorial, we are asking for everybody to use the sample letters and write their Representatives and Senators, or write every damn one of them.

We've started in several states with getting the state leglislatures to sponsor and pass bills backing the National War Dog Team Memorial. So far, we've gotten five out of nine states we're currently working on to pass bills.

Woof!
_________________
"When people are in trouble, they call the cops.

When cops need help, they call the K-9 unit."

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

I hope you get lots of donations - even $5.00 at a time will add up quickly!

And you've made it easy to donate via PayPal or snail mail.

Good luck and I hope the handlers get that memorial for their dogs!
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

[War Dog]

Thanks Navy!

Woof!
_________________
"When people are in trouble, they call the cops.

When cops need help, they call the K-9 unit."

[kd4ybx]

Late january 1969 at Phang Rang RVN, a dog team alerted on a platoon of sappers breaching the wire . We had a big fight that night ! we lost several aircraft due to rocket and mortar fire,many wounded, and at least one security cop killed. If that dog team had not done their job,It would have been much worse, ---DOG HANDLERS ---your money is no good around me---drinks are on me !

[War Dog]

Thanks kd4ybx, as far as the Air Force Bases in Vietnam, of all the attacks by the VC and NVA on those bases, not one attack ever penetrated the base without first being detected by a dog team. I'll take you up on your offer. Where in central Florida are you located?

War Woof!
_________________
"When people are in trouble, they call the cops.

When cops need help, they call the K-9 unit."

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

How's the memorial fund coming along, War Dog? What's your goal? How close are you?

Hope it's going great!
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

[War Dog]

Actually, we've got a long way to go. We're tax exempt in California, but not national. So, our paperwork is in for National, but we're waiting on the IRS to complete and approve the paperwork for that. Once we get national tax exempt, we start our push on merchandising, with minatures of our memorial, the dogs, and the dog with soldier, plus the usual, i.e., hats, cups, shirts, etc..

Also at that point, we take our memorial nationwide with promotion, TV, talk radio, and start pushing for national corporations to support us.

We've gotten resolutions supporting the national war dog team memorial in nine states so far, with five more in progress. We're still trying to find national sponsers in Congress, but with the election year on us, battle on terrorism, and other bipartisan issues, the congress critters have more important things to worry about. Hopefully, after the election, they'll be more generous.

Once we get the congresscritters to support our bill(s), and hopefully get the house and senate to pass them, and the President (hopefully Bush), to sign it, then we'll go to the Park Service, petition for our land, approval of our sculpture, and we're on our way.

I'd estimate that this will be a three or four year project from this point, and maybe more. So far, we've got about $100,000 in the bank.

Woof!
_________________
"When people are in trouble, they call the cops.

When cops need help, they call the K-9 unit."

[inlikeflint]

This War Dog memorial sounds like a noble effort. However, Is there any memorial to honor any other animal that may be in existance?

The reason I am asking this is... The unit that I am from is the infamous 1/1 Cav... They are the ones who had all the problems when they switched from Horses to Armored Vehicles... They made a movie about it with Don Johnson. Anyway, you might consider contacting somone like Disney and laying some history on the uses of animals in war time. This would help you generate the funds to procure an artist that would create the monument. It's not so much the people who run Arlington National... it's more or less the monument and the history behind the art work that it represents.

I am sure art work with the names of the dogs enscribed on it would be insulting to any veteran who served at anytime, as it is too close / similar to the actual wall created. The artist will be able to figure out the details... the money is your hard part... those things do not come cheap... If you are froced to find an alternate location, you could think about rest areas, or Mt Rushmore, or St louis... tons of places where the memorial is more likely to be seen.

Anyway there are some ideas... hope that helps.
_________________
CTRP 1/1 CAV 1st sqd - 1st reg of Dragoons of the 1st AD
19-D. Cavalry Scout 94-97
11-B. Ground Pounder- Nasty Gaurd 00-01

Bosnia 95-96 Z.O.S. Mutants -Too much butter to list.

ACLU member
VFW member

[The bandit]

Here is a related story I just read War Dog....


Mesa police canine handler working hard for memorial

Linda Helser
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 7, 2004 12:00 AM

When it comes to Arizona heroes who have fallen in the line of duty, Gordon Leitz is on a first-name basis with a few.

Like Roscoe, Dax and Hunter, not to mention Murf and Sam.

But as far as the canine handler for the Mesa Police Department is concerned, these four-legged heroes, all now deceased canine officers, have never received the proper due for the sacrifices they've made.

"We used these dogs to save officers' lives and they've given their ultimate by dying, but we've done nothing other than funerals to honor them," said Leitz, a handler for 15 years.

So when someone mentioned a canine memorial might be fitting, Leitz was quick to spearhead the project.

What he envisions is a life-size bronze statue of a German shepherd, mounted on a granite base, with the names of deceased canines, the departments they worked for and the dates of their deaths inscribed below.

And he wants it erected on Wesley Bolin Plaza at the state Capitol.

"There's over 200 canines statewide working for law-enforcement agencies like the various city police departments, county sheriff departments, Arizona Department of Corrections and Department of Public Transportation," he said. "And over the years we've lost 11 of their dogs in the line of duty."

But first he had to have his project presented and approved by the Arizona Police Association.

"We're a very democratic group," said Brian Livingston, executive director of the group.

Sen. Jim Waring, R-Phoenix, was a primary sponsor of a bill in February that would allow such a "Police Canine Memorial," and Gov. Janet Napolitano signed it into law April 5.

Now, all Leitz needs is enough money to commission an artist and build the monument by December 2005.

"We need about $25,000," said Leitz, who is busy organizing fund-raisers. The next one is at Macayo's Mexican Kitchen, 1920 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, on Aug. 31 from 5 to 10 p.m. Twenty percent of all dinner tabs will go to the memorial.

Other donations may be made to the Arizona Police Canine Memorial Fund, Account No. 3520835111 at any Wells Fargo Bank or through Leitz at (480) 226-8769.

[JimRobson]

Keep up the good work War Dog. My sig shows my dog Rinney. He is my bubba. I'm a novice K-9 handler. We are just starting Schutzhund training and have a long way to go.

My heart breaks when I read about the fate of the K-9's left in 'Nam. (Not to minimize the GI's and MIA's)

I've already written my Congressman about the Memorial.

I'll create a flyer and post it at the Dog School and Schutzhund Club.
_________________
ETN2 PTF2 (Littlecreek Underwater Demolition Unit 2 1963)

http://www.thewebplace.com/

[War Dog]

Thanks Bandit, that's great!

Jim, that's one beautiful puppy! And thanks for your service to dogs. Gotta love every one of them. Ms. War Dog and I currently have three dogs, a Yorkie-Poo, a Lab-Chow, and my pride and joy, 'Honey', my two year old German Shepherd-Golden Retriever. She has the coat and color of a Golden Retriever, but looks like a German Shepherd. She is obedience trained, and goes with me everywhere I go, and to all the War Dog and National War Dog Team Memorial presentations I give all over Alabama.

I've been training em for 34 years, and I never tire of meeting new puppies and helping their owners train the the right way, with no yelling, and no physical abuse. Love is the key! Works every time.

Remember, to 'Praise that Puppy'! and 'Stupidity always goes down the leash, never up!' and you'll do okay!

War Woof!
_________________
"When people are in trouble, they call the cops.

When cops need help, they call the K-9 unit."

[dafrog]

25th E.O.D. detatchment, 1970, we got "Lobo". I think he was used to find trip wires ect, apparently he wasn't to good at this. My First Sgt. wouldn't let him be put down so "Lobo" became our watchdog. Our small compound had wire all around and at night " Lobo" was let loose. It seems that "Top Lewie" our First Sgt. was the only one who could handle "Lobo",so making it to the piss tube was an adventure for the rest of us. More than once "Lobo" got hold of somebody coming thru the wire. We never knew who or what he got hold of, but we sure slept better knowing that that dog was on alert all night long. We were told that "Lobo" would never be returning to the States. I remember a file on him and I think he had a rank of E-4. I couldn't help sharing this memory. Good luck on getting the memorial you and they deserve it.. Mike Tompkins South Fl...