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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Fun Monday - Always Faithful

Our host for May 31st Fun Monday is the Church Lady over at Living Life in PA . Kelly, aka Church Lady, is giving us a chance to share a photo for Memorial Day. I found this image of two present day soldiers paying respect to their fallen comrades:



"Always Faithful" by artist Susan Bahary is a war monument commemorating 25 Marine war dogs who gave their lives helping to liberate Guam in 1944. These dogs served as sentries, messengers, scouts and mine detectors in World War II. A Marine medic who tried unsuccessfully to save Kurt, the Doberman pinscher on this monument, insisted that he be buried with other fallen soldiers. Twenty-four other canine soldiers joined their human comrades in a common burial ground on Guam in recognition of their service.

14 comments:

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

That's such a poingnant photo. It's good to know that the animals that do such good work are remembered too.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jan n Jer said...

How interesting...animals are very helpful in war time...its about time they are remembered. Lot that photo. Thanks for sharing Faye and Happy Memorial Day my friend!

Jan n Jer said...

Duh...I mean Love that photo...sorry :)

Janice said...

Beautiful, Faye. I had no idea there was such a memorial. Thanks for sharing.

DJ Kirkby said...

Awwww I love this photo! I keep forgetting it's Memorial day in North America 'cos it's just a bank holiday here.

Mariposa said...

Very interesting!!!

joanygee said...

What a beautiful photo and timely reminder of four-pawed heroes also serving for the safety of us all.
Thanks for sharing...

Sayre said...

That's just beautiful. Especially so to us dog-lovers.

Faye said...

debs--there are so many accounts of dogs comforting soldiers in present day Iraq War--that's good work for sure.

janis--I saw a special about dogs in the Vietnam War and how they served as scouts and alerted soldiers to danger in places where they couldn't see the enemy. Hope you've been invited for a cruise on Freedom Rider today.

janice--apparently there's a national organization that helps commemorate the service of dogs in war.

dj kirkby--hello and thanks for signing up to follow summit musings. I see you all the time at debs' place.

mariposa! how have you been? Enjoying the summer with IT Guy?

joangee--how fortunate to have a good dog beside you in times of danger or loneliness.

sayre--when I saw this image, knew it would be perfect for this assignment--lots of animal lovers among us Fun Monday types.

Living Life said...

What a fantastic post, Faye! After watching a presentation on Afghanistan by my good friend's son who is now back in America, I learned that the Army will no longer allow dogs to be with them at their posts saying they carry too many diseases. That is sad because the dogs serve a couple purposes. They provide companionship to the soldiers and they can detect the enemy (or weapons) from afar. Thanks for sharing this post and for playing Fun Monday this week!

Sandy said...

Brilliant post...faithful companions indeed. Thank you.

Jennifer said...

I adore the prose of this teaser and the photos that go along with it.

Lane Mathias said...

What a beautiful and poignant photo.

I'm glad there is a memorial to such faithful 'comrades'.