Bill Text: VA HJR552 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: K-9 Veterans Day; designating as March 13, 2013, and each succeeding year thereafter.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-02-19 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ552ER) [HJR552 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2013-HJR552-Enrolled.html
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WHEREAS, thousands of dogs have served with honor, dignity, and valor throughout the nation's history; and WHEREAS, in January 1942, one month after Pearl Harbor, "Dogs of Defense" was established by a group of dog-minded individuals urging civilian dog owners to donate their K-9 pets to the war effort to serve as sentry, scout, patrol, messenger, and mine dogs; and WHEREAS, on March 13, 1942, Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson authorized the Quartermaster General to include dogs in the war effort; and WHEREAS, in August 1942, the first War Dog Reception and Training Center was established at Front Royal, Virginia, and later that fall, a K-9 Quartermaster Corps training center was created at Fort Robinson, Nebraska; and WHEREAS, dogs accepted into the training program underwent a rigorous eight to 12-week training program that focused on basic commands such as "sit" and "stay" and exposed the dogs to muzzles, gas masks, gunfire, and riding in vehicles; and WHEREAS, once a dog passed basic training, it was sent to one of four specialized training programs to become a sentry dog, scout or patrol dog, messenger dog, or mine dog; and WHEREAS, in 1944 the United States Department of War created Quartermaster War Dog Platoons, seven in Europe and eight in the Pacific, with each platoon consisting of 20 enlisted men, 18 scout dogs, and six messenger dogs; and WHEREAS, one of the most famous war dogs, Chips, a German Shepherd who was trained at Front Royal, saved countless lives when he attacked an enemy machine gun nest and, despite being shot, continued to attack the enemy, forcing the entire crew to surrender; and WHEREAS, thousands of dogs have served with honor, dignity, and valor throughout the nation's history and growth; and WHEREAS, with the "War on Terror," such dogs as customs dogs, search and rescue dogs, border patrol dogs, police dogs, secret service dogs, and many more will also be included with the military working dogs in being recognized on K-9 Veterans Day as they also help protect and serve the country; and WHEREAS, Joseph J. White, a retired military working dog handler, pioneered the nationwide movement to designate the anniversary of the founding of the K-9 Quartermaster Corps as a day to honor the loyal and loving dogs who so faithfully serve their communities and country; and WHEREAS, it is well-known that working K-9s are loyal, loving, and devoted, and that they knowingly place themselves in harm's way, making the ultimate sacrifice by laying down their life for their partner; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate March 13, in 2013 and in each succeeding year, as K-9 Veterans Day in Virginia; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this day on the General Assembly's website. |
