There are many heroes of war. Most of them are human, but many of them are animals, as well. The new hit movie, War Horse, sheds light on the lives of horses in the military, and today in Hartford Sen. Richard Blumenthal drew attention to the brave dogs that serve in the armed services.

Blumenthal announced he was introducing new legislation that would not only ensure military dogs are well taken care of in their retirement, they will also be allowed to receive recognition and honor for their service to their comrades and country.

In Bethany, members of VFW 2448 are already several steps ahead of the new legislation. On Sept. 27, 2007, they dedicated a memorial to honor the military dog in Veteran’s Memorial Park that was designed and carved by the late Peter Horbick, a veteran who had served in the Phantom Army.

“When Peter was over there,” said VFW member Art Slicer, “they had dogs, and when the handlers left they had to be left behind — like Peter's dog Tommy. He was always concerned about those that were left behind.”

Horbick came across a poem about military dogs by Connie Chronister titled, “Wait by the Gate” and knew he had found just the right piece to carve into a monument that would honor the dogs of war he had loved so much.

“Peter decided to create the memorial in memory of his son Peter, Jr. [who died in 2003 at age 52],” Slicer said. “He asked the author if he could use her poem, and she said yes, but only if he used the entire thing.”

Horbick agreed and went to work, carving every word, along with a montage of dogs at the top of the stone. Chronister, as well as two of her brothers (all in their 80s) drove up from Pennsylvania to witness the dedication, and Slicer said it was an extremely moving ceremony.

The modern military dog

Today, dogs that survive their service in the military are allowed to come home.

“They are no longer left behind on the battlefield,” Slicer said.

However, conditions are far from ideal.

According to Sen. Blumental, military working dogs (MWDs) are regarded as a highly effective means for detecting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that can be otherwise difficult, if not impossible, to find. Despite their importance, however, they are currently classified by the Department of Defense as “equipment,” leaving the dogs’ adopters or individual military units to bear the cost of transportation and care if they wish to transport retiring MWDs back to the United States from serving abroad.

“Military working dogs routinely patrol ahead of the line - put in harm’s way to protect our troops. They show extraordinary strength and loyalty every day in saving the lives and limbs of our war fighters on the battlefield,” said Blumenthal. “These courageous comrades help detect and disarm roadside bombs and IEDs – some of the deadliest threats to our troops. They are critical partners to our combat teams. Retired military working dogs often continue to serve at home in offering companionship and care to war fighters. For their service abroad, these dogs deserve their loyalty and dedication to be returned when they are home.”

Blumenthal’s legislation is designed to facilitate the adoption process for returning dogs. It would also establish a “Retired Military Working Dogs Veterinary Care Fund,” with private donations to be used to provide care to adopted and retired MWDs. This fund would allow both the Department of Defense and private veterinarians to care for the dogs over the course of their lifetimes.

And finally, the legislation would empower the Department of Defense to honor courageous or meritorious dogs, or those killed in action, through appropriate recognition such as a letter of commendation.

In Bethany, however, there was no waiting for legislation to bring honor to the lost dogs of war. On the day of the dedication in 2007, Art Slicer said there was hardly a dry eye at the ceremony.

“When you visit it now,” he said, “you see people reading the poem and shedding a tear for those dogs.”

Below is Connie Chronister’s poem as it appears on the stone in its entirety, exactly as she requested.

I Wait By The Gate

By Connie Chronister

In a strange land I was sent, not knowing my fate;
In a pen I was put and I sat by the gate.
I watched and I wondered what do I do now?
Then I looked up and saw you, as you walked up with a smile.
We trained and we worked and I showed you my best;
You rewarded me and petted me and I did the rest.
Through trails and paths and roads we did go;
And I was to smell, for traps that would blow.
Many times I stopped you from ending your life;
From an enemy trap wire that was set to end your life.
Never have I thought that we would ever part;
Because of the love that we had in our hearts.
Oh, I was proud to walk by your side;
With all of your friends and being your guide.
Then one day you put me back into my pen;
You smiled, you petted me, you said, "Goodbye my friend."
You looked back one more time,
and I saw the tear in your eye;
And I knew it was the last, and was your way of saying goodbye.
My life, it so changed when you went back home;
And I stayed behind to a fate still unknown.
It's been over 30 years since I've seen your face;
But I never forgot you, my friend and my mate.
So please don't worry, I'm waiting by Heaven's gate;
For my best friend, my brother, but mainly my mate.