Military Working Dog Teams National Monument
| Military Working Dog Teams National Monument | |
|---|---|
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Military Working Dog Teams National Monument | |
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| Location | Bexar County, Texas, United States |
| Nearest city | San Antonio, TX |
| Coordinates | 29°23′26″N 98°37′01″W / 29.390433°N 98.617067°WCoordinates: 29°23′26″N 98°37′01″W / 29.390433°N 98.617067°W |
| Governing body | Department of Defense |
| https://myairmanmuseum.org/military-working-dogs/ | |
The Military Working Dog Teams National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded by John C. Burnam, published author and Vietnam Veteran Infantryman and German Shepherd Scout Dog Handler (1966-1968). The monument was designed by the John Burnam Monument Foundation. It represents all wars since World War II and all five U.S. Armed Services (Army, Marines, Navy Air Force, and Coast Guard). The monument grounds encompass a 3,000 square feet granite plaza, granite pedestals, granite history wall, and granite benches. The granite pedestals have large bronze statues of dogs and handlers. Cost of construction was provided by corporate sponsors and public donations raised by the John Burnam Memorial Foundation. The monument was dedicated during a formal military ceremony on October 28, 2013. One of the inscriptions reads: "Dedicated to all U.S. Military Working Dog Handlers and their beloved dogs who defend America from harm, defeat the enemy, and save lives."[1]
Monument
The Military Working Dog Teams National Monument consists of five bronze sculptures (4 dogs and dog handler) seated on a large granite pedestal inscribed, "Guardians of America's Freedom."[1] The center silicone bronze sculpture is a highly detailed 9 foot modern day Military Working Dog Handler wearing combat gear and holding a dog leash in his left hand and a M4 rifle in his right hand.
The remaining bronze sculptures are four of the more common breeds of Military Working Dogs utilized by the United States Department of Defense since World War II. They include a Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, and Belgian Malinois.[2]
Behind the main granite pedestal is a large granite wall containing inscriptions about the history of the Military Working Dog program on one side. The other side of the wall contains laser etched authentic images of Military Working Dog Teams in action during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Behind the granite wall are five flag poles, one for each of the five U.S. Armed Services.
The "Not Forgotten Fountain" is a bronze sculpture depicting a Vietnam War dog handler pouring water from his canteen into a helmet.[3] The sculpture represents a Vietnam era dog handler and his working dog. A significant feature is the dog’s paw resting on the thigh of his hander accentuating their bonding relationship. The water fountain idea was conceived by Mr. Burnam and sculpted by Artist, Paula Slater. The water fountain is fully functional so that a visiting dog may have a drink. The granite pedestal of the "Not Forgotten Fountain" reads "In everlasting memory of all the war dogs who served, died, and were left behind in the Vietnam War". The entire monument is equipped with in-ground lighting providing a startling nighttime effect.
History
In February 2008 the John Burnam Monument Foundation, Inc. (JBMF) was establishment to design, fund, build, and maintain a Military Working Dog Teams National Monument. Joining John Burnam were U.S. Air Force Vietnam Veteran Security/Patrol Dog Handlers, Richard Deggans and Larry Chilcoat. The IRS approved JBMF, Inc. as a 501c3 Tax Exempt Charity with a primary focus on education and raising public funds to build a national monument.
In 2012, Jim Frost, Vietnam Veteran Sentry Dog Company Commander and Kristie Dober, former U.S. Army Military Working Dog Handler were added to the JBMF Board of Directors to help promote public awareness and raise public funds for the national monument.
U.S. Representative Walter B. Jones sponsored congressional legislation within H.R. 4986 National Defense Authorizations Act for FY 2008, Section 2871 of Public Law 110-181 authorizing the John Burnam Monument Foundation the exclusive rights to design, fund, build, and maintain the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument. The bill was signed into public law by the President George W. Bush on January 28, 2008.
The John Burnam Monument Foundation raised 2.1 million dollars from corporate sponsors and public donations to fund the construction and maintenance of the national monument. The national monument is located next to the Basic Military Training Parade Field at Lackland AFB. Lackland AFB was selected by the John Burnam Monument Foundation due to its historical significance as the training center and headquarters of the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Program since 1958.[4] The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon officially approved the location authorizing the John Burnam Monument Foundation to construct the national monument in coordination with Lackland AFB Civil Engineers.
Design
In 2008, John Burnam led the design effort with Richard Deggans and Larry Chilcoat contributing. Graphic Artist and Designer Brian Rich, worked with the team to digitally illustrate and create computer renderings to bring the vision to life. The design ideas incorporated simplicity of understanding, meaningful purpose, and accuracy in its military and historical representation. The design incorporate the history of the war dog program from World War II to the wars on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. The design included all five U.S. Armed Services (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard). The materials selected to build the national monument were granite and silicone bronze, which could stand the test of weather and time with minimum maintenance for its outdoor location. The concept and design was presented and approved by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
The Keith Monument Company procured the entire horde of granite from the Rock of Ages Granite Quarry, Graniteville, Vermont. The granite components were cut to specifications, shipped to Lackland AFB and installed on-site.
Artist Jim Smith, Laser Imaging and Design, Inc., created the artistic impression of authentic photos of war dog teams in action scenes since World War II. The idea for the wall of photos was that of Mr. Burnam. He acquired authentic photos from World War II to the War on Terror from public records at the National Archives in Washington DC. The black granite panels were seamlessly mounted on the large gray granite wall.
The four large bronze dog sculptures and the 9 foot bronze military dog handler were crafted by artist and bronze sculptor Paula Slater, M.A..[4]
The bronze and granite fully functional "Not Forgotten Fountain" was conceived by John C. Burnam and sketched and sculpted by Artist, Paula B. Slater, M.A.
Dedication and unveiling ceremony
The Military Working Dog Teams National Monument was unveiled during a formal dedication ceremony with full military fanfare on October 28, 2013. The event was covered by many local and national news organizations. The ceremony was open to the American public. The ceremony was organized by the John Burnam Monument Foundation under the direction of Lt Col Harris 341 TRS Commander and TSgt Christopher Dion 341 TRS Military Working Dog Handler Course Team Chief. Speakers included its founder and author, John C. Burnam, retired USMC Handler Ron Aeillo, President US War Dogs Association, TSgt Leonard Anderson, Wounded USAF Handler, Mike Dowling, USMC Handler and author of Sergeant Rex
Public access
The Military Working Dog Teams National Monument is located on a secure United States Air Force Installation. However, Public Law 110-181 requires the Department of Defense to provide reasonable access to the monument by visitors and their dogs. Therefore, members of the public (and their dogs) who wish to visit the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument can access the installation to see the monument by requesting a base pass at the Lackland Air Force Base visitor control centers. The pass is limited to four hours of base access and can only be used to visit the monument.[5]
Current
In 2014 responsibility for the care, upkeep, and promotion of the national monument was officially transferred by the John Burnam Monument Foundation to the Airmen Heritage Foundation. Christopher G. Dion, MSgt, USAF, was selected as the official foundation trustee of the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument based on his previous role of 341st TRS National Monument coordinator. MSgt Dion passed the responsibilities of the trustee to Jonathan M. Desmond, TSgt, USAF, on 22 October 2015.
References
- 1 2 John Burnam Memorial Foundation. Military Working Dog Teams National Monument. 2013. Bronze and marble. Lackland AFB, TX.
- ↑ U.S. military dedicates first national monument to combat dogs, Reuters, October 30, 2013
- ↑ Hero Dogs of the Military Finally Get a National Monument, Pets Advisor Buzz, November 5, 2013
- 1 2 "1st national monument for war dogs honors four-legged pup soldiers of World War II and beyond". October 30, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
- ↑ Memorandum for Record, Commander, 802d Security Forces Squadron, October 31, 2013
