DOGMAN

Page 4

June 2002

Wine-taster

Students learn about

raises $2,550

war dogs in VDHA

for war dogs

school presentation

by TRACEY DIXON

K9hero.com

designed with imagination and

by JOHN C. BURNAM

The Wine Tasting/Silent

VDHA President

creativity by the students as part

Auction held April 26 at Chalet

of their classroom education.

Debonne Vineyards in Madison,

Fort Mill Middle School,

Cornwell suggested an end-

Ohio raised $2,500 for the

South Carolina - On May 17,

of-year school assembly to cap

National War Dog Memorial.

Fort Mill Middle School was the

off the work her students did for

John  Burnam,  VDHA

gathering place for telling war

the web site by inviting veteran

president and author of Dog Tags

dog stories.

war dog handlers, including me

of Courage kicked off the

VDHA Secretary Raymond  as the primary guest speaker.

Attending the Fort Mill Middle School program in South Carolina were,

evening as guest speaker. Veteran

"Pete" Peters, VDHA (designer

from left: VDHA veteran war dog handlers Richard Prest, John

Prest  made  a  special

war dog handler Larry Buehner

of the War Dog Memorial on the

Burnam, Johnny Mayo, teacher Lou Ann Cornwell, and "Pete" Peters.

presentation to the 10 students

was also in attendance.

USS Yorktown, Charlestown,

who created web pages honoring

The Silent Auction contained

N.C.), veteran Navy dog handler

It was a second trip for "Pete"

School, New Jersey - On May

the Navy K9 dogs and their

37 items donated by individuals

Richard Prest, VDHA veteran

Peters to Fort Mill Middle

24, 2002, I was invited by middle

handlers.  A

and businesses for the event. The

scout

dog

School. The students were happy

school teacher, Scott Sipos, to

reproduction of

two auction items that received

handler Johnny  Students are thanked for

to see Pete again and talk to him.

give a war dog presentation at the

the patch worn

the highest bids were a framed

Mayo,

and  "War Dogs Web Site"

Old Turnpike Middle School.

by Navy dog

Jennifer Ficklen, an 8th grade

print titled, Mission Complete"

myself, were all  project.

handlers  30

student, introduced me as the

Each year this middle school

by artist Julie Parker and donated

present

and

years ago was

guest speaker. I lectured on the

puts on a celebration with full

by Burnam.

accounted for at the middle

presented to each student.

war  dog  story  to  an

military honors, including a fly-

school's assembly dedicated to

The second item was a dog

enthusiastically charged and

He also presented a Certificate

by called, "Remembrance Day."

the America's war dogs.

bed full of goodies donated by

attentive assembly of 500+

of Appreciation to Cornwell,

It is their way of saluting all

Janie and Roger Sibell.

Mrs. Lou Ann Cornwell, 8th

students and guests in the

which was signed by the Navy

veterans of all wars on Memorial

grade teacher of computer

Other auction items related to

school's gymnasium.

unit director and Vietnam veteran

Day. About 34 war veterans of

classes, was the primary reason

entertainment, sports, fashion,

war dog handler, Richard "Dick"

all branches of military service

CBS affiliate WBTV and

we all showed up. Many months

travel, crafts, antiques, and

King.

and occupations were on hand to

CN2 TV covered the entire

ago, she came up with the idea

collectibles. We extend a sincere

share their stories and artifacts at

event, which later aired on local

Veteran war dog handler

of developing a "War Dogs Web

thank you to all of the donors!

this annual Memorial Day event.

TV news stations that evening

Johnny Mayo brought his dog

Site" project.

Guests included family,

and the next day.

Over 400 students and guests

Her students took to the idea  along to the delight of the

friends and co-workers of the

Thank you, Mrs. Cornwell,

attended

this

special

like going to get ice cream and  students. Johnny also brought

K9hero.com team as well as

for initiating and organizing such

presentation. Thank you, Scott

contacted many VDHA veteran  lots of war dog t-shirts and hats

many people closely tied to the

a wonderful tribute to the

Sipos, for including the war dog

war dog handlers all around the  for sale, which raised $400 for

dog community and actively

nation's War Dogs.

story as part of this honorable

country. Individual war dog web  the National War Dog Memorial

involved in animal health, dog

and patriotic annual event.

Old  Turnpike  Middle

pages  were  subsequently  in Washington D.C.

rescue groups, police K9 units,

or K9 Search and Rescue.

Marines plan reunion in August

At the start of Burnam's

Security police

presentation, he requested the

audience to stand for a moment

to hold annual

accurate.

beautiful  and  interesting

by GARY GRUENWELD

of silence to reflect upon the

attractions. There will be a

Send the names with the

Vietnam reunion

courage and bravery of our

A 1/26th Marines Iwo Jima-

Hospitality Room (Regimental

registration fees of the people

nation's fallen war dogs and

Vietnam,

Corpsmen

&

Command Post) set up for

attending to: P.O. Box 656, New

by DON GRAHAM

handlers.

Supporting Units Reunion will

registration and to reunite with

Market, MD 21774.

Afterwards, he gave a brief

be held Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, at

The Vietnam Security

all our brothers. This is open for

I hope to see all of you at this

history of the war dogs, followed

the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel,

Police Association will hold

24 hours during our event.

once-in-a-lifetime event. And

by some dramatic war dog

1401 Lee Highway, in Arlington,

its annual reunion Oct. 10-

Please prepare to bring your

let's make this the largest

stories, not only of his own

Va.

13 in Dayton, Ohio.

photos and history information

Operation (party) since Meade

partners Hans, Timber and

The reunion rate is $99 per

It will be held at the

with you.

River. We will be having a guest

Clipper, but also of many other

person per night and a $50 per

Marriott Hotel across from

I am writing a book about the

speaker at our formal dinner.

war dogs including Chips,

person registration fee, which

the Wright Brothers Museum

Marine Iwo Jima-Vietnam and

Please, no cammies!

Stubby and Nemo.

includes a formal sit down

in Carillon Park.

Operation Meade River Nov-

All donations can be sent to:

The audience came away with

dinner and dance.  You must

The reunion will include

Dec 1968. I need your personal

1/26th Marines Iwo Jima-

an upbeat feeling of why the

make your room reservations on

a tour of Wright Patterson

stories in the book. You can also

Vietnam Fund, Farmers &

country needs to officially

your own. Call the hotel at (703)

AFB.

send it to me via the mailing

Mechanics National Bank, New

recognize and honor the services

524-6400 and mention the 1/

address on this invitation or to

For more information,

Market Office, 11717 Old

and sacrifices of our nation's war

26th Marines Iwo Jima-Vietnam

usmcgman74@juno.com

contact Steve Gattis at

National Pike, New Market, MD

dogs, from all wars, by

Reunion.

gattis@gte.net,  or  the

Include your rank and unit

21774

establishing a "National War

Please make all reservations

Reunion Brat 509-582-9304

information with your story/

Information is also available

Dog Memorial" in Washington,

as soon as possible The hotel is

email bratmail@aol.con

experience. I have most of the

on the web site at: http://

D.C.

conveniently located across the

awards information, but I am

You can also visit the

w w w. g e o c i t i e s . c o m /

Right after Burnam's speech

Potomac River to Washington,

sure some of you received

association's web site at

armyusmc2001/

ended, Bill Truax's dog, Gunny,

D.C. and next to the Iwo Jima

awards many years after the

www.vspa.com and receive

26th_Marines.html (make sure

pranced into the room to the

Memorial, Arlington National

action and I would like to make

up-to-date information

you put an underscore after

Cemetery and many other

sure this list is complete and

Continued on Page 5....

26th_).