By Kim McDarison
Sunday, March 13, marked the return of the traditional in-person observance and celebration of K-9 Veterans Day, which is, in Wisconsin, in its eighth year.
Last year, the seventh annual event was presented virtually.
Back at the podium at the American Legion Banquet Center in Fort Atkinson, Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson treasurer, K-9 Veterans Day program coordinator — and by most accounts the inspiration behind bringing K-9 Veterans Day as a statewide observance to Wisconsin — Mabel Schumacher, told those in attendance that she was pleased to once again be able to honor all K-9 working dog teams, both active and retired, in-person.
Included within the afternoon’s program at the legion hall was a presentation given by Schumacher honoring K-9 team Kenosha Sheriff’s Department Deputy Terry Tifft and his multipurpose German Shepherd dog “Riggs.” The two gained distinction last fall after Riggs was shot in the line of duty while the team participated in the apprehension of an alleged murder suspect in Kenosha County.
A story about the apprehension made last fall is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/kenosha-county-k-9-team-of-deputy-tifft-riggs-honored-sunday-in-fort/.
Also honored was the K-9 team of handler Justin Stuppy and “Tilla.” Stuppy was formerly a member of the Whitewater Police Department, but made a career change last December. He serves today as a member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Police Department. When Stuppy left the municipal department, he purchased Tilla from the city of Whitewater. He was then officially retired. Stuppy told those in attendance Sunday that retirement for Tilla lasted about one month. It was clear, Stuppy said, that Tilla wanted to return to work. Today the K-9 team is reunited and working with the UW-Whitewater department.
A story about Stuppy’s career change and Tilla’s retirement is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/police-dog-k-9-handler-to-leave-whitewater-police-department/.
During the program, Schumacher shared the names and photographs of 30 K-9s who had “crossed the rainbow bridge” over the last year. Many died while in retirement. As each name was read aloud, veteran K-9 handler Rick Hong rang a ceremonial and memorial “War Dogs” bell.
A slide presentation honoring each of the fallen dogs is here: http://fortatkinsononline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/FINAL-COPY-K9-Veterans-Day-2022-PP-presentation-compressed-1.pdf.
Schumacher also updated those in attendance about the formation last year and subsequent progress of the Marine Terry Beck Protective Services Scholarship. The scholarship memorializes Beck and his German Shepherd dog “Seato.” Both were killed in action during Vietnam. Beck was a resident of Fort Atkinson. The scholarship will be offered to Fort Atkinson High School seniors and graduates entering the field of protective services.
During the presentation, Schumacher said the scholarship was formed with help from the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation. Last year, the kennel club sought donations of $15,000 to begin the scholarship. Schumacher noted that the fundraising efforts exceeded those expectations, with $20,000 in donations received to begin and fund the scholarship.
A story about the formation of the Terry Beck memorial scholarship is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/k-9-veterans-day-observed-terry-beck-scholarship-announced/.
Additionally, the program included a presentation made by War Dogs Association Chapter 3 Executive Director John Meeks, who, aided by a slide presentation, shared a history of war dogs and their handlers, with some emphasis placed on K-9 teams serving in Vietnam. Meeks was a K-9 handler during the war and is today the guardian of “Brutusz,” a retired U.S. Army dog whom he has adopted. Brutusz also was in attendance.
During the presentation, Meeks talked about his own experiences in Vietnam while serving with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division as a K-9 scout dog handler. He worked with two dogs. The first was “Artus,” whom he credited with saving his life several times. He was killed in action Dec. 11, 1970. A second dog, a female German Shepherd, was left behind in Vietnam after Meeks shipped out. Meeks said many K-9s serving in Vietnam were left behind after U.S. forces exited the country. While a small fraction made it back to the United States, he said, most were abandoned, euthanized or given to the South Vietnamese military police.
After the presentation, K-9 teams were invited to approach the podium where each handler was congratulated and thanked for their service by Jefferson County Sheriff Paul Milbrath and each dog was presented with a special dog treat made by Bon Ton Bakery in Jefferson.
After K-9 teams were recognized, Schumacher recognized Milbrath for his service and support of K-9 Veterans Day and Milbrath recognized Schumacher with a Jefferson County K-9 Merit Award for her support of working K-9 teams.
Among those in attendance Sunday were State Sen. Steve Nass and war historian and author Ron Werneth and his family.
Update: a file of 23 dogs honored during the event was initially shared by organizers. The file and associated copy within the story have been updated to include 30 K-9s honored. Organizers have expressed regret for any confusion caused by the error.
Photos from the event follow.
Mabel Schumacher, Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson treasurer and K-9 Veterans Day program coordinator, greets attendees of the 8th Annual K-9 Veterans Day Program held Sunday, March 13, at the American Legion Banquet Center in Fort Atkinson. The occasion marked a return to traditional in-person programming. The event was held virtually last year.
Legion Chaplain Roger Faltersack leads attendees in prayer.
American Legion Post 166 Sergeant-at-Arms Richard Miles leads the color guard. Members, not in pictured order, include: Joel Osmanson, Bill Imsland, Dave Behling, and a member of the War Dogs Association who carried the War Dogs flag.
Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson Mabel Schumacher, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Terry Tifft and K-9 multipurpose German Shepherd dog “Riggs,” take a moment for photographs during the 8th Annual K-9 Veterans Day observance.
Veteran K-9 handler Rick Hong rings the ceremonial and memorial War Dogs bell after the name of each K-9 lost last year is read. Some 30 names, corresponding to a photograph presented through projected slides, were read aloud during the ceremony.
War Dogs Association Chapter 3 Executive Director John Meeks shares slides, history and personal accounts about war dogs and his time spent as a K-9 military scout dog hander during the Vietnam War.
Listening to the presentation from the front row is “Brutusz,” a retired military dog who has been adopted by Meeks and lives in his care.
One of several canine members of the War Dogs, Inc., Milwaukee Chapter finds a spot to enjoy the program.
State Sen. Steve Nass, pictured center, is among participants attending the 8th Annual K-9 Veterans Day observance.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater K-9 team handler Justin Stuppy, at center, is seated in the audience and holding the leash of his K-9 partner, a 5-year-old German Shepherd dog named “Tilla.”
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater K-9 team Justin Stuppy, kneeling, and German Shepherd dog, “Tilla,” pose for a photo after receiving recognition for their service along with two “special cookies,” one for human and another for canine consumption. A program volunteer helps the team back to their seats with their cookies. Cookies were baked by Bon Ton in Jefferson.
Jefferson County Sheriff Paul Milbrath hands a special dog-bone-shaped cookie to a K-9 member of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.
Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson Treasurer Mabel Schumacher presents Jefferson County Sheriff Paul Milbrath with a cookie made in appreciation of his support of K-9 Veterans Day.
Jefferson County Sheriff Paul Milbrath presents Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson Treasurer Mabel Schumacher with a Jefferson County K-9 Unit Merit Award in appreciation of her dedication to working K-9s.
Miah Werneth, kneeling, daughter of military historian and author Ron Werneth, visits with a K-9 team.
K-9 handlers with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department gather around Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson Treasurer Mabel Schumacher. Sheriff Paul Milbrath stands to her right.
Kim McDarison photos.
Click the arrow above to view the virtual presentation of last year’s K-9 Veterans Day observance.
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