I was going to start this military weekend post as follows:
It has been a while since we spent part of a weekend admiring those wonderful animals called “dogs” — more specifically our military working dogs.
Whether called military working dogs, or four-legged warriors or, as in the case of their more gentle brethren, therapy dogs or comfort dogs, these creatures always bring a little joy to my day. Hope they do to yours, too.
But then I noticed the article I was quoting from was written less than two months ago — that is not “a while” ago– so let me start over.
Recent articles about our military have dealt with Memorial Day and the sacrifices of our military today and 200 years ago, Armed Forces Day, the Invictus Games, graduations at our Service Academies and various other military topics.
They are all important and serious topics. But there is one subject — very close to my heart and, from feedback, very close to readers’ hearts — that we have not covered in a long, long time* and that is our military working dogs, our four-legged warriors.
So here are some images which I hope will give us all a brief respite from what has become a tortuous, exasperating presidential primary.
Rex, a military working dog, takes down Air Force Staff Sgt. Brandon Hardy during a demonstration for elementary school students at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 17, 2016. Hardy and Rex are assigned to the 96th Security Forces Squadron. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.
Luke, a retired military working dog, sits next to the U.S. War Dogs Association display at the 2016 Shaw Air Expo and open house at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 21, 2016. Photo by Senior Airman Zade Vadnais
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Landon Gilliam embraces his K-9 during joint training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2016. U.S. and Japanese handlers escorted their working dogs to locate explosives hidden throughout the station’s landfill and harbor areas. Gilliam is a Provost Marshal’s Office military working dog handler assigned to Headquarters Squadron. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson
Air Force Senior Airman Chase Shankle gives a demonstration with Arko, a military working dog, for Eglin Elementary School students at Eglin Air Force Base. May 17, 2016. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.
Air Force Staff Sgt. August O’Niell and his service dog, Kai, prepare to enter the stadium for the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games 2016 at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla., May 8, 2016. . Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts
Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Helma hugs Rex during a military working dog demonstration for Eglin Elementary School students at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Helma and Rex are assigned to the 96th Security Forces Squadron. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.
Army Sgt. Elizabeth Marks pets Bugsy, a military working dog, while U.S. wheelchair basketball team members celebrate their gold medal win at the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Fla., May 12, 2016. DoD photo by Roger Wollenberg
Of course we have to have at least a couple of photos on that other favorite topic: Coming home, whether returning safely to your aircraft carrier “home” after a short mission…
Sailors greet pilots as they return to the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson in the Pacific Ocean, May 6, 2016. The sailors are assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 154. Navy photo by Airman Courtney Leavitt
…or coming home into the arms of your loved ones after a long deployment (below)
Florida National Guard soldier reunites with family members upon returning from a deployment to Afghanistan. (Florida National Guard photo.)
Lead photo: Retired Navy Seaman Brett Parks hugs military working dogs belonging to U.S. swim team members after competing in his preliminary swim event at the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Fla., May 7, 2016. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Carlin Leslie.
* Time is relative and time “dilates,” or something like that. I know nothing about it, but that’s a great excuse to use for making “recent” seem like a long, long time ago.
Have a great weekend!
