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Service Dog Saturday
October 23, 2021 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Join the Military Women’s Memorial, Leashes of Valor, K9s Serving Vets, and Veterans Moving Forward for guided tours, demonstrations, and a panel discussion highlighting the importance of Service Dogs.
REGISTER TODAY
For American military veterans, social support and expert care are imperative for managing physical and mental injuries sustained while serving our nation. Service Animals are trained to provide around-the-clock support specific to the needs of their human counterpart.
Learn how canines have served veterans both during and after their military service, watch trained Service Dogs demonstrate their highly specialized skills, and hear directly from veterans about their true experiences and impacts of Service Dogs on their lives.
Throughout the event, you can expect:
Guided Tours
Location: Military Women’s Memorial Lobby
Enjoy a brief, casual tour of the Military Women’s Memorial led by a Service Dog (and two humans ????).
Each tour will conclude with a photo opportunity in front of “The Pledge” ¬– a life-sized bronze statue depicting a woman soldier in full combat gear kneeling and locking eyes with her service dog. The work was commissioned by the U.S. War Dogs Association, a nonprofit that supports military service dogs and their handlers. This is the first statue that specifically honors the commitment of military women and their working dogs.
Service Dog Demonstrations
Location: Military Women’s Memorial Theater
Enjoy the opportunity to witness a Service Dog in action! Learn about the role Service Dogs play in the lives of people with service-related injuries, the specialized skills they are able to perform, and the proper way to interact with working service dogs or dogs in training.
“Truths on Service Dogs” Panel Discussion | 1:00 p.m.
Location: Military Women’s Memorial Theater
Explore the unsung truths on service dogs from the perspective of veterans and their service dogs. This panel discussion will dive into the often unseen realities of wounded veterans, service dog training, and more.
Featured Panelists:
- Jason Haag, former Service Dog handler, CEO & Founder of Leashes of Valor
- Kira Clark, Army Veteran, Founder & President of K9s Serving Vets
- Dr. Gordon Sumner, President & CEO of Veterans Moving Forward
- Danique Masingill, Navy Veteran & President of Leashes of Valor
- Pam and Nimitz, Army Veteran and Leashes of Valor Graduate Team
The discussion will also be made available virtually via Youtube Live.
About the Military Women’s Memorial
The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Donate to this Charity Navigator 4 Star Organization and join the National Registration Campaign to help share the stories of women veterans. Find out more about us at womensmemorial.org or by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
About Leashes of Valor
Founded by and for Veterans in 2017, Leashes of Valor is a national nonprofit working to provide a highly-trained service dog to every post-9/11 Veteran who needs one to ease the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and military sexual trauma (MST). Our mission is as simple as it is critical: Bring service dogs and post-9/11 Veterans together to enrich the lives of both. Learn more at www.leashesofvalor.org.
About Veterans Moving Forward
We at Veterans Moving Forward are pleased to announce our great relationship with the Military Women’s Memorial. Veterans Moving Forward, Inc. (VMF), a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, provides service dogs to veterans dealing with physical and/or mental health challenges, no cost to the veterans or their family. www.vetwfwd.org.
About K9s Serving Vets
As the liaison between Veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs and service dog training organizations, we empower Veterans by helping them partner with service dogs to transform their lives.