Honoring four-legged veterans - March 13, 2024

2024-03-11

Dear friend,

Happy Monday! How's your week going so far?

I'm excited for this Wednesday. I invite you to join me and the Vermont Legislature in celebrating March 13, 2024 as National K9 Veterans Day in Vermont.

Dogs and humans have relied on each other since, well, forever. But it was on March 13, 1942, that the Army began training for its new War Dog Program, also known as the K-9 Corps.

Since then, dogs have been essential to the U.S. Armed Forces both in war and in peace. Not only do our four-legged friends serve us with bravery, but the bond of trust between a dog and its human handler is remarkable.

One person who has taught me about our K-9 veterans is Corporal David E. Robinson, who was on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1992 to 2000, including two tours in Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti (1994 and 1995), and who served his last several years as a Military Police Dog Handler.

Corporal Dave Robinson (back, second from right) with MWD Lyka in the late 1990s.

For example:

“Your dog out-ranks you by one,” said Corporal Dave Robinson at Sunday’s Vets Town Hall at Brattleboro’s American Legion. I looked this up later—all military service dogs are considered NCO, or non-commissioned officers. They are given a rank higher than their handler to encourage respect, and to ensure that any mistreatment will be harshly punished. (Read more: On keeping the "uppy" in "puppy")

We are celebrating K-9 Veterans Day in the Legislature with a reading by Corporal Robinson at the start of the House session, and a reading of H.C.R.152: House concurrent resolution recognizing March 13, 2024 as National K9 Veterans Day in Vermont.

You are invited to join us in person or online!

Here is the text of H.C.R. 152:

Whereas, when Americans reflect on our nation’s military personnel, they typically think of the outstanding men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, and

Whereas, although most of the members of the U.S. Armed Forces are indeed human beings, a select group of approximately 1,600 highly trained four-legged fighters of the canine species also serve the nation, performing vital military roles, and continuing a tradition dating from at least the Civil War, and

Whereas, these four-legged soldiers graduate from the vigorous 120-day Military Working Dog Training Program of the San Antonio-based U.S. Air Force 341st Training Squadron, which has a mission “to provide trained military working dogs and handlers…for security efforts worldwide,” and

Whereas, most of these skilled K9 combatants are trained for the dual roles of patrol duty and sniffing for either drugs or explosives, and

Whereas, the usual career path for military dogs is to remain assigned exclusively to the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, or the U.S. Marines Corps for the duration of their careers, and

Whereas, a special bond develops between the human handler and their assigned military dog, and

Whereas, the duties the dogs are assigned are physically demanding, and their training regimen keeps them in top condition, but when injuries arise, the Lt. Col. Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Hospital in San Antonio provides expert and compassionate health care, and

Whereas, without military dogs, many aspects of the U.S. Armed Forces’ responsibilities could not be fully implemented, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:

That the General Assembly recognizes March 13, 2024 as National K9 Veterans Day in Vermont, and be it further

Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution the U.S. Air Force 341st Training Squadron in San Antonio, Texas.

Do you know any K9 heroes? I'd love to hear about it!

warm regards,

Rep. Tristan Roberts
Vermont House of Representatives