R-206 Page 1 of 1
2024
No. R-206. House concurrent resolution recognizing March 13, 2024 as National K9
Veterans Day in Vermont.
(H.C.R.152)
Offered by: Representatives Roberts of Halifax, Beck of St. Johnsbury, Dolan of Essex Junction, Graning of Jericho, Gregoire of Fairfield, Hango of Berkshire, Harrison of
Chittenden, Labor of Morgan, LaBounty of Lyndon, Masland of Thetford, McCann of
Montpelier, Morrissey of Bennington, Ode of Burlington, Patt of Worcester, Sammis of
Castleton, Templeman of Brownington, and Troiano of Stannard Offered by: Senators Collamore, Hardy, Harrison, Hashim, Norris, Sears, and Wrenner Whereas, when Americans reflect on our nation’s military personnel, they typically think of the outstanding men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, and Whereas, although most of the members of the U.S. Armed Forces are indeed human beings, a select group of approximately 1,600 highly trained four-legged fighters of the canine species also serve the nation, performing vital military roles, and continuing a tradition dating from at least the Civil War, and Whereas, these four-legged soldiers graduate from the vigorous 120-day Military Working Dog Training Program of the San Antonio-based U.S. Air Force 341st Training Squadron, which has a mission “to provide trained military working dogs and handlers…for security efforts worldwide,” and Whereas, most of these skilled K9 combatants are trained for the dual roles of patrol duty and sniffing for either drugs or explosives, and Whereas, the usual career path for military dogs is to remain assigned exclusively to the
U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, or the U.S. Marines Corps for the duration of their careers, and Whereas, a special bond develops between the human handler and their assigned military dog, and Whereas, the duties the dogs are assigned are physically demanding, and their training regimen keeps them in top condition, but when injuries arise, the Lt. Col. Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Hospital in San Antonio provides expert and compassionate health care, and Whereas, without military dogs, many aspects of the U.S. Armed Forces’
responsibilities could not be fully implemented, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly recognizes March 13, 2024 as National K9 Veterans Day in
Vermont, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution the
U.S. Air Force 341st Training Squadron in San Antonio, Texas.
VT LEG #374961 v.1