Don’t you (or your dog) forget Front Royal’s Memorial Day Monday at noon

Canines can be patriotic too – and always are during Front Royal’s Memorial Day ceremony. Photo/Roger Bianchini

Families of local veterans who lost their lives on fields of battle from the Civil War through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are encouraged to attend Front Royal’s Memorial Day ceremony Monday at the Town Gazebo on Main Street from noon until 1 p.m.

This ceremony is unique to Front Royal because it includes a salute to the “dogs of war”, many of which have died while protecting the lives of our soldiers.  In fact, the first dogs to be called for duty in World War II in the Pacific were trained at the Warren County Remount Center on Front Royal’s southside in 1942.

Event co-chair and U.S. Marine Corps reservist Major Robert MacDougall heads up the tribute to our nation’s war dead; with musical accompaniment by the Skyline High School Band opening the ceremony under the direction of Ben Lombardo.  Keynote speaker will be retired U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Tina Laing of Randolph-Macon Academy.  Sgt. Laing is a decorated Iraq war veteran.

Keynote speaker Air Force Tech. Sgt. (retired) Tina Laing of R-MA. Courtesy Photo

Air Force Master Sgt. (ret)  Diana Lieber will lead a short parade of dogs featuring canines seeking adoption from the Julia Wagner Animal shelter led by shelter volunteer Sue Wagoner.  Those bringing their pets to the gazebo are invited to take part in the parade.

The Humane Society of Warren County, the Town of Front Royal; the Rotary Club of Warren County, and the Air Force Association, are sponsoring this year’s event.  Mayor Hollis Tharpe will join Laing and MacDougall in laying the memorial wreath, provided again this year by Betty Showers of Fussell Florist.  An honor guard comprising Blue Ridge Young Marines and cadets from R-MA will be present.

The invocation and closing prayer will be given this year by Rev. Fr. Kevin Beres of St. John the Baptist Church.  Rev. Michael Williams will offer a blessing to the war dogs and the animals present in the park area.

Jacob Bols, a former Warren County elementary school student now living in Orange County, will play taps.

And acknowledgment to all who have sacrificed for the nation during wartime, with a special 2017 nod to two locally-connected vets.

This year’s ceremony is dedicated to the memory of Army Sgt. Roger Bianchini Sr. who took part in the WW II D-Day Normandy invasion, and later, the Battle of the Bulge; and Vietnam War veteran Robert Williams, a USAF dog handler.

Those planning to attend should bring a chair and perhaps an umbrella for sun shade. The Humane Society will provide water bowls and water for all dogs in attendance.

(A history of Memorial Day appears elsewhere on this news site)