Airborne Museum Recognizes Dedication of Special Operations Canine Soldiers
Tweet this: On May 29th at 12 pm, the @ASOMF honors Special Operations Canine's killed in the line of duty. @VisitFayNC #Honor http://bit.ly/2qAQXv8
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Fayetteville, NC – Each Memorial Day, the Special Operations Forces (SOF) K9 Memorial Foundation and the Airborne & Special Operations Museum (ASOM) Foundation hold a K9 Memorial Ceremony near “Constant Vigilance”, the world’s first memorial to SOF K9s killed in the line of duty. The 2017 ceremony will be held on Monday, May 29th at 12 noon on the grounds of the ASOM in Fayetteville.
“These truly daring and brave dogs often lead their Soldier team-members in the most dire conditions to save lives and complete the mission,” says Paul Galloway, Executive Director, ASOM Foundation. “They've given their lives for their country and we are grateful to be able to honor them on this special day." Fittingly, Constant Vigilance overlooks “Iron Mike” – the icon of the Airborne Trooper. Both memorials are on the grounds of the ASOM.
Guest speaker Laura Miller served as a veterinary technician for 26 years in the United States Army, with the last ten years dedicated to taking care of Special Operations Forces dogs. She is Vice President of the SOF K9 Memorial Foundation, which she co-founded in 2010 to acknowledge the sacrifice and loss felt by all of the SOF community when a dog was killed or missing in action.
“Constant Vigilance,” which was dedicated in July of 2013, honors canines from around the world. Surrounding stones have the dog’s birth and date killed in action. The plaque reads “the Bond Between a SOF handler and his K9 is eternal. Trusting each other is a nameless language. Here we honor the SOF K9s that have paid the ultimate price.”
Field of Honor
Each year, Fayetteville and Cumberland County host a “Field of Honor” on the grounds of the ASOM. Each flag honors a current or past service member. They do the same for the canine soldiers. The “K9 Field of Honor” surrounds the statue during “Field of Honor.” Large flags are placed next to the dog’s flag representing handlers that were killed alongside the dog.
For more Memorial Day activities in Cumberland County, follow THIS link.
About the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (FACVB)
The FACVB is a private, not-for-profit organization responsible for positioning Cumberland County as a destination for conventions, sporting events and individual travel. For additional information, visit www.VisitFayettevilleNC.com or call 1-888-98-HEROES.