The U.S. military dedicated this week the first-ever national monument that honors the contributions of military working dogs and their handlers.
The U.S. Working Dog Teams National Monument is located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. The base is home to the 341st Training Squadron, where every military working dog team has been trained for every branch of the military since 1958.
Former military working dog handler John Burnam spearheaded the movement to have a national monument for war dogs. He also designed the monument.
Burnam said at the dedication ceremony:
"As a nation we owe our war dogs a tremendous debt of gratitude. Their selfless service, loyalty and sacrifices to our country must never be forgotten. The U.S. Military Working Dog Teams National Monument is a treasure for us all to ensure they are honored and remembered forever."
Military dog handler John Baker, who also attended the dedication ceremony, told Reuters:
"These dogs were patriots just as much as anybody else who served."
Video of the ceremony courtesy of KENS 5-TV.
