National K9 Veterans Day

Repost from Military.com | By Amy Bushatz

National K9 Veterans Day, March 13, is a day set aside to honor commemorate the service and sacrifices of American military and working dogs throughout history.

Staff Sgt. Radames Leon and Pako are a 96th Security Forces Squadron military working dog team at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. (U.S. Air Force)

It was on March 13, 1942, that the Army began training for its new War Dog Program, also known as the "K-9 Corps," according to American Humane, marking the first time that dogs were officially a part of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The rest, as they say, is history. Officially a part of the service of not, the dogs of war span centuries and include such heroes as Sgt. Stubby, the original war dog, Chips, the most decorated dog in World War II and Lex, who retired with his fallen owners family and Cairo, the Navy SEAL working dog on the bin Laden raid.

Related:

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• 13 Photos of Military Working Dogs Being Awesome

• The 9 Biggest Myths About Military Working Dogs

• Check Out These 17 Awesome Photos of Military Working Dogs at War

• A Brief History of Dogs in Warfare

Today's military dogs are valued as important members of their military units and even have their own retirement ceremonies, awards and medals and memorial services.