Hanover Park to unveil war dog statue on Memorial Day

Hanover Park's Memorial Day observance ceremony this year will feature something extra special - the unveiling of a new statue of a military working dog.

The village's fundraising campaign to collect $25,000 for a metal cast of a German shepherd to honor all canines that have served the U.S. armed forces began nearly three years ago.

The work is now done and the statue designed by artist Renee Bemis will be revealed during the Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday in the Veterans Memorial Plaza in front of village hall at 2121 Lake St.

John A. Meeks II, director of the United States War Dog Association Chapter 3 in Kokomo, Indiana, will speak at the ceremony. He will be accompanied by Abel, a retired Army K-9.

Military Working Dogs have been saving lives since World War I, Hanover Park Deputy Village Manager David Webb said. And the more than 4,000 dogs that served in Vietnam are credited with saving in excess of 10,000 lives.

Though the new statue will have a special place in this year's ceremony, the observance will honor all who served the country in time of war and say thank-you to them.