It has been a challenging year, personally. Job losses for both Hubby and me and the tanking of the economy, taking our 401 K with it. Because of all of the turmoil, we’ve remained relatively homebound for most of the past year. A real change for me. While I have a new job, I haven’t acquired any vacation time yet so was delighted to hear that they closed for the Labor Day holiday. We immediately made plans to go out of town for just a night or two. To get away, have some fun, relax – but still wanted it to be somewhere close so that it didn’t take long to get there and wasn’t terribly expensive. We struggled with Charleston (my first thought), Savannah (our all time favorite city), Chattanooga (been there, done that) etc. At one point I suggested that we go to Columbus and spend time sightseeing. We go to Columbus frequently, but it’s always for War Dog events and we never seem to have time to truly visit the city itself. Hubby was in total agreement as they had just opened up a new Infantry Museum and we were anxious to see what it looked like.

To quasi-quote Billy Crystal “It looked mmmmarvvvvelous.”

When we arrived at Columbus, our friend Ann reminded us to stop by Dinglewood’s Pharmacy for a “Scrambled Dog” which we did. Then we headed straight for the Civil War Naval Musueum, which is very, very cool. But, the piece-de-resistance was the new Infantry Museum. I’m not sure if Frank Hanner is still the curator or not, but whoever put this museum together did an outstanding job. OMG. We started about as soon as they opened up and finally left at about 4:00 that afternoon- our heads filled with facts, figures and memories AND it’s free. Truly, it is definitely ranking in one of the top ten museums I’ve ever been in and they include the Louvre and the Smithsonian Museums.

Once we made our way in, the docent advised that our walk into the musuem exhibitions was 100 yards of history. 100 yards being the exact same length on the battlefield that is owned by the Infantry. At that close range, Air Force support and close fire support cannot help. It all has to be handled by the Infantry. There were a couple of items from he old War Dog display, but not as much as I had hoped. However, I was overjoyed to see Col. Nett so prominently shown, along with a wonderful area to honor the men who have earned the Medal of Honor. One of my friends has a brother, Danny K Peterson, who received that honor in Vietnam. It was a very emotional day, but also a fun and educational day. If you have the opportunity, please go. It is a very special museum.

One of my long time friends used to answer the question, “How are you?” with the answer, “Just like Waffle House hash browns, scattered, smoothered and covered.” Sometimes I feel a bit like that myself and apologize to all of you who do bother to check in frequently that I haven’t been updating the Blog quite as often as I’d like. There are a number of reasons that I haven’t been getting the updates out as often. One is that I’ve been invited to speak at a couple of dog clubs and have taken the MWDTSA Power Point presentation on the road. It’s a pleasure to be able to speak to groups and share the information about Military Working Dogs, their history and missions, but it’s also taken time. Another thing is that I’ve been between jobs and then had two full time jobs at once so that was kind of wacky making the transition back to just one. Then there are personal missions that don’t have anything to do with MWDTSA, but things that I feel very passionate about and have to write letters and make my voice heard. It all adds up to one very full and hectic life. So, while I apologize for not getting more updates out there, please know that MWDTSA is growing. At one of the recent speaking engagements I attended, one man stood up and told me that he had just returned from Afghanistan where he worked as a dog handler and that our organization was well known and well repected by the dog handlers there. Kind of makes me think that we are all doing something right because it is a definite group effort.

Without your support we couldn’t make it happen. So thanks to all of you who give of your finances, creative energies and time. Thanks to the handlers in Afghanistan and Iraq for all they are doing, too. I dug out a few old photos from 2007 of the last event that I helped coordinate at Fort Benning’s War Dog Memorial. There are photos of Vietnam handlers and the top Marine K9 Cop at that time. I visited there about a month ago and having time to go back to read each of the pedestals and look at that beautiful memorial scuplture refocuses and reinvigorates. There is still much work to do and still too few hands to do it with. If you can help in a committed, long term way, please let me know.

Military Working Dog Dag sits in a shady spot, with his tennis ball, after completing a successful tracking exercise, at Joint Security Station Loyalty, in eastern Baghdad, Iraq, May 15, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. James Selesnick/Released)

We know how smart they are. They prove it daily, through rigorous training, weary missions, and amazing successes. And, while the handlers are the leaders of the team, they know very well that the dogs possess talents that people cannot duplicate. We know how smart they are, how dedicated, how loyal…but have you ever sat back to watch the eyes of a working dog? Intense, honest and inseeing. We have four dogs posted today for all to enjoy. Earlier this year, Military Working Dog, Dag, found a shady spot to sit and contemplate his tennis ball – a reward to a successful tracking mission. Photo by SSG James Selesnick.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Stacey Harrington and Military Working Dog Ggabbi conduct a search of the neighborhood activities center prior to a business development seminar in the Gazaliyah district, Baghdad, Iraq, Sept. 21, 2008. Bryson and Warren are in Green Platoon, Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Charles W. Gill/Released)

U.S. Army military working dog, Andy, sits alertly during a pre-mission briefing for Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers participating in a joint operation with the Iraqi Army and U.S. Soldiers of 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, in Rusafa, eastern Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 28, 2009. The Soldiers are searching for weapons caches and targeted insurgents. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. James Selesnick/Released)

Also taken by SSG Selsnick is the photo of Andy, sitting alertly during a pre-mission briefing in eastern Baghdad. Andy spent the day looking for weapons caches and insurgents. MWD Ggabbi is photographed while conducting a search of a neighborhood in Baghdad last year. Her photo was taken by Spc. Charles W. Gill. And, lastly, we have the beautiful Kandy, another Army dog attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne. Kandy is paying attention during a pre-departure briefing. Kandy was also photographed by SSG Selesncik, who is an awesome MWD photographer.