THIS STATUE IS TO HONOR ALL “DOGS AND HANDLERS” FROM ALL WARS AS THEY SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES. WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM, THE HANDLER COMMUNICATES TOTALLY BY HAND SIGNALS AND MOVEMENTS TO PROVIDE COMMANDS TO THE DOG. THESE SELECTED DOGS ARE TRAINED IN MANY DISCIPLINES, SUCH AS TRACKING, SCOUTING, SENTRY, MESSENGER, PACKING, EXPLOSIVE DETECTING, SLEDDING AND MANY OTHER DISCIPLINES. AT THE START OF WORLD WAR I, AMERICA DID NOT HAVE A PROGRAM FOR TRAINING DOGS, OR FOR USING DOGS IN ANY CAPACITY.
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS GROUPS WAS “DOGS FOR DEFENSE,” LED BY A GROUP OF PROFESSIONAL BREEDERS WHO CAME INTO BEING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR. BY JULY 1943, OVER 11,000 DOGS HAD BEEN PROCURED, WITH MOST OF THEM COMING FROM DOGS FOR DEFENSE. THE FIRST WAR DOG RECEPTION AND TRAINING CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED AT FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA IN AUGUST OF 1942. DURING WORLD WAR II, A TOTAL OF SEVEN MARINE WAR DOG PLATOONS NICKNAMED “DEVIL DOGS” WERE TRAINED AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA. ALL OF THE DOG PLATOONS SERVED IN THE PACIFIC IN THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN. NOT ONE UNIT PROTECTED BY ONE OF THE DOGS WAS EVER AMBUSHED BY THE JAPANESE NOR WAS THERE EVER A CASE OF ENEMY INFILTRATION.
Sponsored by Henry Gene Ray
THE TERM GOLD STAR FAMILY IS A MODERN REFERENCE THAT COMES FROM THE SERVICE FLAG. THESE FLAGS/BANNERS WERE FIRST FLOWN BY FAMILIES DURING WORLD WAR I. THE FLAG INCLUDED A BLUE STAR FOR EVERY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, DURING ANY PERIOD OF WAR OR HOSTILITIES IN WHICH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES WERE ENGAGED. IF THAT LOVED ONE DIED, THE BLUE STAR WAS REPLACED BY A GOLD STAR. THIS ALLOWED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THE PRICE THAT THE FAMILY HAD PAID IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM.
THE UNITED STATES BEGAN OBSERVING GOLD STAR MOTHER'S DAY ON THE LAST SUNDAY OF SEPTEMBER, IN 1936. THE GOLD STAR WIVES WAS FORMED BEFORE THE END OF WORLD WAR II. THE GOLD STAR LAPEL BUTTON WAS ESTABLISHED IN AUGUST 1947.
TODAY, THE NATION RECOGNIZES THE SACRIFICE THAT ALL GOLD STAR FAMILY MEMBERS MAKE WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES IN SERVICE TO THE NATION. GOLD STAR MOTHER’S AND FAMILY DAY IS THE LAST SUNDAY OF SEPTEMBER AND GOLD STAR SPOUSES DAY IS APRIL 5.
