War Dogs! Memorial:

March Field Museum--the perfect location!

Need a ride, directions, VDHA connections & Discounts to attend the dedication?
Read on!

I was at the War Dogs Memorial today: Read what it's like now!

About the War Dogs Memorial location - The first of two War Dogs Memorials will be unveiled on Presidents Day, 2000, at March Air Field (Air Reserve Base; adjoining the former AFB).

As a former USAF K-9 handler (Đà Nàng, Blackie,1965-1966), I believe March Field Museum is the perfect location for the towering War Dog and Handler monument. A prime location, both poetic and highly appropriate for honoring War Dogs and their partners. At sunset, the monument will silhouette against amber skies while quietly overlooking the green manicured lawns of our nation's largest veterans cemetery where over 114,000 are at final rest. The War Dog and Handler will symbolically watch over the park-like cemetery... while performing a last patrol on the outer perimeter around the giant Air Base, formerly known as March Air Force Base.

(Photo: Blackie (129X), was put down after six years of faithful heroic service from Đà Nàng AB early 1965 to Tan Son Nhut AB, late 1970).

      As you can see by viewing the map (courtesy of Thomas Guide), March Field Museum is located exactly halfway between the Air Base's flight line and Riverside National Cemetery, which is only a stones throw from the museum grounds (for scale, the runway is 3 miles long!), and parallels the heavily traveled 215 Freeway. You can also check out March Field Museum's WebPage for an aerial view of part of the grounds, and read about placing a tiled tribute on the grounds. I recommend the museum, have been there, and drive by it daily.

Don Poss

VDHA: Because of American War Dogs, there are thousands fewer names etched in stone on The Wall of the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, at Constitutional Park, Washington,  D.C.. Ironically, at the end of the Vietnam War, military officials abandoned almost all the war dogs. VDHA writes, "Of the 10,000 men who served with K-9 units during the Vietnam War more than 265 were Killed in Action. Of the 4,000 Dogs that served, 281 were "Officially" listed as "Killed in Action", but only 190 were returned home at the end of the war. Over 500 dogs died on the battlefields of Vietnam." Nevertheless, there has been no tribute to these dogs until the Discovery Channel program, sponsored by Nature's Recipe, as envisioned and promoted by theVietnam Dog Handler Association to raise the memorial's $1,500,000!

The second War Dogs Memorial is at Ft. Benning's Infantry Museum on the east coast. Proceeds from WAR DOGS project has helped fund the $1,500,000 memorials to honor those heroic dogs and handlers who served in Vietnam.

 What's happening... and where?

War Dogs! Memorial
March Field Museum

Need a ride, directions, VDHA connections, where to stay, and discounts to attend the dedication? Read on--we're going to help!

Tom Mitchell
VDHA Chairman

AIR TRAVEL: If you are flying in, please contact Joan Elder, at 1-800-878-6991, so we can be sure it is taken care of properly and that we have the information for the shuttles we will be providing.Be sure you fly into Ontario, CA International Airport! If you fly to LAX (Los Angeles) or John Wayne (Orange County) then you have a two hours drive, minimum, and you will be on-your-own!

TRANSPORTATION: A great group of guys in Riverside have volunteered to shuttle us around -- plus there will be a number of guys from SoCal who will have cars to help with transportation.

HOTEL RECOMMENDED: We have chosen the Best Western Hotel on Magnolia Street in Riverside as the VDHA hotel. We will not have any events there though. It is about three miles from the VFW post and is in a good clean part of town.

The Memorial...

     War Dog Memorial Dedication - Directions:

        11:00 a.m., Monday, February 21, 2000,
        March Field Air Museum,
        Center Courtyard,
        22550 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA

        Take the I-215 Freeway / Van Buren Boulevard exit (south of I-60 Freeway)

        To clarify, the War Dog Memorial is really not located on March ARB property (adjoining
        properties), so don't follow the signs to March ARB. It is just outside the west end of the base.

         Tom Mitchell

... and Celebration Banquet
       will be a very special event! Local dog handlers are gearing up with VDHA and VFW to make this happen--including rides from Ontario Airport, discounts, car rentals, and a celebration banquet!
        And don't forget Disneyland is nearby! If at all possible, join us at the War Dogs Memorial dedication--It will be something you will be proud of, and never forget!
                Banquet Reservations, as of today, Friday, January 21: 108 from VDHA are coming -- including 44 members. 86 will be at the dinner and 16 of us will be at the Best Western. These numbers will soar quickly, as the majority of the members know nothing of these events as they are not online.  Your letter from Jeff Bennett should arrive very soon.
                Please let me know if you are coming to the Reception after the Dedication, at the Riverside VFW Post 9223 (corner of Tyler and Arlington) for cocktails at 5: 00 p.m., and a fantastic prime rib dinner at 6: 00 p.m. I am keeping track of how many will attend both Memorial & Dinner, for our VFW cook and the Museum Director at March Field Air Museum.All members are invited!         

VDHA Members - Who's Signed up so far?

FYI   Here is a list of  94 VDHA members who we have as attending the War Dog Memorial on Feb. 21. This list is as of  Friday, Feb 11, 2000. Also included is their Vietnam unit and e-mail address, if they have one. Sometime tomorrow I will be sending more details on the dedication.

Tom Mitchell vdha@home.com

LATEST NEWS, UPDATES, & SUMMARY !

FYI - I just got word from the "Riverside Team" that the War Dog Memorial has been installed at the March Air Museum and it looks fantastic! Bob Rodocker said the statue, which stands about 18-feet, really stands out and that you can plainly see it from the I-215 freeway. As he said, "It is the best location for the Memorial, by far." Thousands of motorists will see it everyday! The Memorial will be draped for the dedication and be unveiled as part of the ceremony on Feb. 21.

Here is all the info I think you will need. If I have not addressed something, please let me know.

Please check out these two websites:

First Notice, on  01-17-00, 9: 40 p.m.

I am sending this to all VDHA members online. I know most of you cannot make it to the War Dog Memorial Dedication, but just in case your plans change, I wanted to make sure you got this information. I hate long e-mails, but I have no choice on this one. Sorry

In the future I will only send Memorial information back to those who say they coming. That way I don't jam your computer with a bunch of unnecessary e-mails. If you still want the info even if you aren't coming, please let me know.

I was in Riverside most of today and there is only one word to describe what will take place there on February 21. FANTASTIC!

When I arrived at the museum I was surprised and happy to see that the museum has its own sign on the freeway, the very busy I-215. I turned off and also saw the sign for the National Cemetery, so I drove there first to check out the new Medal of Honor Memorial.

When I drove in to the cemetery I expected to see a sign, even a small one, directing me to the Memorial - Nothing. Nada. If I didn't know it was there... well, now I feel we are very lucky to have it at March. At least people will know it is there. Nothing against the cemetery, because they have been behind us all the way, but the Museum is a much better location. During the two-hours I was at the Museum I'd bet 50-100 people toured the area.

I meet with Laura Benge of the War Dog Memorial Fund; Steve Clark, the General Manager of the March Field Museum; and world-renown sculptor, A. Thomas Schomberg, who did the memorial. We spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out the best spot for the memorial. We found a location that is in the front courtyard. A place where everyone who comes to the museum will see and go to it. It will be a very high profile place. Heck, you'll be able to see it from the freeway!

The memorial is made of bronze and will stand 18-feet tall. The handler stands 8-feet tall! One big memorial. It will face south so the sunshine will really make it sparkle. A great site for a great memorial. Oh, I have not seen the memorial yet. It is due for installation on Feb. 15.

After that meeting, I met with VDHA member Mike Mc Elroy, who is also the VFW 9223 Commander . I checked out their facility and it will be a great place to hang out if you come to town prior to the dedication, as well as a great place for our dinner Monday night.

We have a dedicated team of VDHA members in the area who are helping out. Mike Mc Elroy, Don Poss, Scott Faust, Jim Camp, Dennis Jefcoat, Gerry Heitsman and Albert Cianci. Dennis has arranged for a nine-passenger van for the three day weekend. He is also working with Budget Rental to get a group deal on car rentals. I am very excited about this, especially sense it is all coming together so well. I hope you can make it.

We found some hotels today, but we have not set up a group rate with any of them yet. Please do not make reservations at a hotel until we can get the best rate. I will let you know in the next couple of days.

Everywhere I went today they wanted to know how many members were coming. The Museum wants to know, as does the VFW and the hotels.

So here is what I need:

1. Are you coming to the Dedication, if so how many are in your party?
2. Do you need a hotel? Arriving when and departing when?
3. Do you plan to fly?
4. Do you want a rental car?
5. Do you plan to have dinner at the VFW Monday night, and how many?

If you have already e-mailed me with information please do it again and include the above answers.

I sure hope this e-mail makes sense. I am way too excited!

Thank you very much.

Tom Mitchell,
VDHA Chairman