WHEREAS, Over the course of our nation's military history, tens of thousands of war dogs served during World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo peacekeeping operations, and coalition operations in Afghanistan and Iraq; and
     WHEREAS, These war dogs were specifically trained for jobs like scout, sentry, tracker, mine and booby trap detection, tunnel, water patrol, coast guard, messenger, and search and rescue; and
     WHEREAS, American's war dog teams have a long and legendary history of courage, heroism, and sacrifice on thousands of foreign fields of battle and are credited with saving countless numbers of lives of Americans, allies, and noncombatants; and
     WHEREAS, War dogs have significantly reduced the enemy's capacity to sabotage or destroy war equipment worth billions of dollars; and
     WHEREAS, War dogs work for food, water, and the love, loyalty, and bond of their handlers; and
     WHEREAS, At the end of World War II the thousands of military working dogs were hailed as heroes and discharged from the military service and returned to the United States where many were repatriated with the families that donated them, while others were released to the custody of their handlers to live the rest of their lives in peace; and
     WHEREAS, During the Vietnam War all dogs were classified as equipment and deemed expendable and most of the surviving dogs were either transferred to the South Vietnam Army for duty or euthanized; and
     WHEREAS, The loving bond and extreme loyalty between dog and handler is unconditional and immeasurable and it was extremely difficult for the handlers in Vietnam to leave their dogs behind; and
     WHEREAS, Veteran and current war dog handlers have joined together to create and fund a fitting memorial to war dogs to be placed in Washington, D.C.; and
     WHEREAS, War dog handlers are asking Congress for permission to place the National War Dog Team Memorial in a place of honor in Washington, D.C.; and
     WHEREAS, The National War Dog Team Memorial will give war dog handlers and other soldiers who relied on war dogs for their safety and survival the opportunity to have an enduring tribute to their loyal and loving companions and protectors;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives officially recognize the courage and dedication of war dogs and the appropriateness of a fitting memorial to war dog teams in our nation's capital; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be delivered to all members of Washington State's congressional delegation and to the Washington State representative of the National War Dog Team Memorial, Mr. Bill Shoap of Port Orchard, Washington.