Facts About Military Working Dog Teams National Monument

A military working dog team. Photo By Wesley Farnsworth – Wikimedia Commons

10 Facts About Military Working Dog Teams National Monument

The Military Working Dog Teams National Monument is a monument that honors military working dogs. It is located at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) – Lackland in San Antonio, Texas.

The monument represents handlers, dogs, and veterinary support, from all military service branches that have made up the Military Working Dog program since World War II.

The monument grounds feature a 3,000 square feet granite plaza, granite pedestals, a granite history wall, granite benches, and a water fountain. The granite pedestals have large bronze statues of dogs and handlers.

1. The Need for a Monument

Military Working Dog National Monument at Lackland Air Force Base. Photo By Articseahorse – Wikimedia Commons

Mr. John Burnam spearheaded the development of the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument (MWD). He was a U. S. Army combat infantryman and German Shepherd Scout Dog Handler during the Vietnam War.

His war dog partners died in Vietnam, but he wanted to keep their memories alive. He bravely started a campaign to create the monument by creating the John Burnam Monument Foundation (JBMF) in 2008.

2. A Bill on the Floor of the House

With the support of Congressman Walter Jones, the U.S. National Monument was authorized with the passage of Public Bill 110–181, Section 2877, by the United States Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in January 2008.

National Defense Authorizations Act for 2008 was amended and authorized the Burnam Foundation to design, fund, build and maintain the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument.

3. Funding the Monument

The JBMF solicited and raised $2.1 million from private and corporate sponsors and public donations. The funds were used to construct and maintain the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument.

4. Location of the Monument

Since the Monument could not be placed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., The JBM foundation selected Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland as the next most appropriate alternative location because of its historical significance.

It had been the training center and headquarters of the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Program for all military service branches that is Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard since 1958.

The Base also provides training for working dogs for other government agencies. It is also home to the Holland Veterinary Military Working Dog Hospital, the only one of its kind.

5. The Design

Back of the Military Working Dog National Monument. Photo By Articseahorse – Wikimedia Commons

Arrangements were made with the Department of Defense to accept the monument and have it installed. It was positioned at the southeast corner of the 37th Training Wing Basic Military Training Parade Field at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

The Military Working Dog Teams National Monument design was created by the John Burnam Memorial Foundation and approved by the Department of Defense. The bronze sculptures were created by renowned artist and bronze sculptor Paula B. Slater.

6. Dedication of the Monument

On 28th October 2013, the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument was unveiled during a dedication ceremony with full military fanfare. The event was covered by many local and national news organizations.

The ceremony was organized under the direction of Lt Col Harris 341 TRS Commander and TSgt Christopher Dion 341 TRS Military Working Dog Handler Course Team Chief.

Retired USMC Handler Ron Aeillo who is the President of the U.S War Dogs Association was a keynote speaker at the event. Others were TSgt Leonard Anderson a Wounded USAF Handler and Mike Dowling a USMC Handler and author of the book Sergeant Rex.

7. The Monument Unveiled

Military Working Dog National Monument Photo By Articseahorse – Wikimedia Commons

The Military Working Dog Teams National Monument consists of bronze canine sculptures and a handler arranged on a large granite platform written “Guardians of America’s Freedom”.

At the center is a bronze statue of a life-like modern-day Military Working Dog Handler. He is wearing combat gear and holding a dog leash in his left hand and an M4 rifle in his right hand.

The other bronze sculptures are four (two on each side of the handler) common breeds of Military Working Dogs utilized by the United States Department of Defense throughout history. These are a Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, and Belgian Malinois.

To the rear of the pedestal is a granite wall containing information about the history of the Military Working Dog program on the front side. On the back, there are images of Military Working Dog Teams in action during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the Afghanistan War.

Behind the wall stands in-display flags of the Army, the Marines, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard service branches of the United States Department of Defense on five flag poles.

8. The Not Forgotten Fountain

Military Working Dog National Monument ‘Not Forgotten Fountain’ Photo By Articseahorse – Wikimedia Commons

To the side of the Military, Working Dog Teams National Monument is the “Not Forgotten Fountain”. The fountain is a bronze sculpture depicting a Vietnam War dog handler pouring water from his water bottle commonly referred a canteen into his helmet.

Drinking from the helmet is a common way of providing water for dogs while in the field. The fountain is designed in such a way that water flows from the helmet into a small pool for visiting dogs to drink.

At night the monument is lit with soft lighting providing a startlingly different perspective than what can be seen during the day. This “Not Forgotten Fountain” is a tribute to the war dogs left behind during the Vietnam War.

9. Public Access to The Monument

The Military Working Dog Teams National Monument is located on a secure the United States Air Force Base. However, Public Law 110-181 requires the Department of Defense to provide reasonable access to the monument by visitors and their dogs.

In line with this, members of the public and their dogs can visit the National Monument. With a valid state or government-issued ID such as a driver’s license, one can access the monument by requesting a base pass at the Lackland Air Force Base visitor control center. All those requesting access should know that they will be vetted for security purposes

10. Current Upkeep

Lieutenant General James Holmes speaks at the dedication ceremony. Photo By Ben Faske – Wikimedia

In 2014, before being deactivated, the John Burnam Monument Foundation officially transferred the national monument’s care and maintenance to the Airmen Heritage Foundation.