GRAND FORKS — Honoring their sacrifice and dedication. Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Tom Saddler reflected on the purpose of Veterans Memorial Park in Grand Forks as he walked along the memorial wall.
“Some gave little, some gave more, some gave everything,” he said.
Soon to be recognized with the men and women, are military working dogs and service dogs.
“To show those that we are continuing to educate the public of what military dogs did during the war, and what we are doing now to help our veterans,” said committee member Gary Shields.
The park is in the process of adding two life-sized bronze statues honoring man’s best best friend. One is a military working dog, the other is a service dog with a veteran.
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According to the 2024 suicide report by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 17 veterans die by suicide each day.
“Sit down with that pet, and you start to pet that pet, the visions go away, the heart rate starts going down, and it takes away the trauma, the flashbacks,” said Saddler.
The statues, which will also be lit and include educational signs, cost $180,000 for the pair.
The Veterans Memorial Park Committee is trying to raise $50,000 to complete the project.
The goal is to erect the statues in 2025.
“Hopefully will keep people aware and that young folks will understand the sacrifices,” said Saddler.
Matt Henson is an Emmy award-winning reporter/photographer/editor for WDAY. Prior to joining WDAY in 2019, Matt was the main anchor at WDAZ in Grand Forks for four years.
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