Days of rain... decades of remembrances
... a private reunion... and
today is the day... special beyond belief for me -- and I
would receive a gift I will forever remember.
I'm thinking of you, Blackie, as I walk
among the crowd of aging veterans assembling for a last salute to K-9
friends long dead. I remember your friendship... and yes, your special
brand of humor. A dozen or more familiar faces, handshakes, back-slapping,
and anxious glances toward the dark plastic wrapped about the monument
protecting it more form view than the rain. Color Guard presents arms... a
sea of hands salute, remove hats in the pouring rain... proud speeches... tears
of remembrance... K-9 police dogs from 50 law enforcement agencies parade
forward... and finally... the moment of unveiling War Dogs is at
hand, and butterflies danced their dance within me.
The formal wrap of fine-cloth was not
used for the monument because of the days of rain. And suddenly, the
poncho-like plastic is released and flutters away. Silence. Do they
feel what I had felt a few days earlier when I had first met War Dogs?
David Eisley's haunting music began to drift across uplifted faces... and stripped away the last pretence for many having-it-together.
A call for War Dog Handlers to come forward and place a Rose before
the memorial. Men in their fifties, sixties, and seventies, nudged forward
as one through the parting crowd to pay honor to their war dogs of Vietnam,
Korea, and World War II. I hesitated... watching the men. Studying
their reactions. Each giving one another a private moment in the swelling
tide of humanity, with his dog.
Unable to speak to my son David, for fear of
the voice I wouldn't have, I thought of the folklore that when mankind
was kicked out of heaven, the dog voluntarily went with him... and wondered--prayed--that
dogs go to heaven.
I knew the stream of dog handlers I had
joined were unique in many ways. All had experienced love for, and from,
a dog of war. As I drew closer to the life-like handler and K-9, it
suddenly was important to know if dogs have souls... aren't they
more deserving of heaven than most humans? I needed to believe it
is so... and then wondered if Blackie lives in heaven, does he remember
me... is he watching... are they watching those who honor them now
... and those who could not be here but are in spirit?
At that moment, a rain-teardrop
appeared in the corner of Blackie's eye, as if God Himself allowed a
brief moment to signal that, Yes, Don... Blackie remembers ... and that is when I let go my pretence of strength.
