Remembering our special heroes on Veterans Day

Eagle Lake Remembers

While we honor our Veterans each year on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month our imaginations take us to multiple places around the world where our patriotic men and women have served our country in multiple wars. We express gratitude to our living veterans and honor all who have served in the US Armed Forces both in times of peace and in times of war.

We put out our flags and lay wreaths in recognition. But let us not forget the valiant sacrifice and service of our brave and courageous war animals who fought alongside our men and women, giving patriotism an even broader and deeper meaning.

Millions of our beautiful pets and four-legged friends participated in intense months of training to help us in our military discipline and efforts. Dogs were used in combat even before horses, and both sacrificed their lives for our protection. Dogs wore gas masks and learned to parachute from planes.

They were messengers, scouts, bomb detectors, and fighters. They also had ranks and were often comforts to soldiers. They carried medical supplies to the fields and were watchdogs to spot the enemy. Our War Dogs trained at Camp Lejeune NC; in Virginia; and at Lackland AF Base in Texas.

Eagle Lake had its own War Dog. The large, black Newfoundland dog given to Leonard and Gardner Seaholm by their father, Mr. Gus, was left alone when the boys left for the service. Seeing his sad- ness, Mr. Gus decided to enlist the dog “Tar” into the US Military to serve his country, as his two masters had done.

“Tar” was a fine, healthy, and strong, registered dog. Gus watched him pass his physical and other requirements, as he prepared to ship out for his intense training. And who could be sure his path wouldn’t cross with his masters overseas? That day Eagle Lake saluted its first War Dog.

Millions of animals served our country. The horses were legion and performed extraordinary feats including transportation before vehicles and tanks were readily used. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives during warfare helping to make troop movement faster and safer. Well-trained, they gave much to the military effort and saved countless lives.

There were mules to carry cargo; camels to travel the north African deserts; pigeons to carry messages from military encampments; cats to eliminate rodents from the trenches; birds to sniff gases; and hosts of other life-saving creatures and military jobs.

As we honor our Veterans, let us also honor those remarkable partner participants whose lives were given in training and on the battlefields abroad. We will never forget you.