U.S. Army Working Dog Program manager is K-9 Veterans Day speaker

The Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson — the sponsoring organization of K-9 Veterans Day in Wisconsin — has announced that U.S. Army Military Working Dog Program manager Sergeant Major Viridiana Lavalle will serve as keynote speaker at this year’s K-9 Veterans Day event. 

This year marks the 9th annual observance of the day, which will be held Sunday, March 12, at the American Legion Banquet Center, 201 S. Water St., E., Fort Atkinson, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. 

The public is invited to attend the free event. Light refreshments will be provided. 

According to information released by the kennel club, Lavalle is based out of the Office of the Provost Marshal General. She has served in every leadership position, from team leader to directorate of Emergency Services as provost sergeant major. 

Lavalle also has served as a military police officer, special reaction team operator, military working dog handler, protective services agent, military working dog instructor/trainer, dog training school course chief, and kennel master, the release noted.  

In addition, the release describes her stateside assignments as “numerous,” further reporting that, leading up to her current role at the Pentagon, Washington D.C., her overseas assignments include Camp Henry, Korea; Yongsan, Korea, and Fort Shafter, Hawaii. 

She has deployed to Qatar and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the release stated.  

As noted in the release, K-9 Veterans Day, the recognition of which has become an annual event in Wisconsin, was established in the state following a successful campaign organized by the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson. In 2015, a K-9 Veterans Day proclamation was adopted by the Wisconsin Legislature, creating a day to remember and honor military working dogs, police dogs, customs dogs, search and rescue dogs, border patrol dogs, arson dogs and secret service dogs that protect and serve the nation. 

This year, the K-9 Veterans Day program will include recognition of the eight K-9 handler teams who were present during the Wisconsin Assembly K-9 Veterans Day vote to establish K-9 Veterans Day in Wisconsin, along with the introduction of the first recipient of the Marine Lance Corporal Terry Beck Protective Services Scholarship, the honoring of fallen K-9s, and recognition of all veteran and current K-9 handlers and working K-9s in attendance. 

As is tradition, at 12:30 p.m., there will be a brief wreath-laying ceremony in Fort Atkinson’s McCoy Park, 1202 Madison Ave., at the site of the K-9 Veterans Memorial to honor the K-9 team of “Seato” and Beck, his handler, both of whom were killed in action in December 1967. Immediately after the wreath-laying, participants will move to the ceremony at the American Legion. 

The Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson, Inc. is a non-profit organization of volunteers offering training classes, education, and community service. For more information about the K-9 Veterans Day event, visit the club’s website: www.kcfadogs.org or contact the project coordinator, Mabel Schumacher, by email: schu848@charter.net.