A Memorial Dog Day Afternoon honors service to country

In a small, rural Virginia town 70 miles west of the nation’s capital the annual Memorial Day ceremony honors, not only those people who have served and sacrificed for their country in times of war, but their K-9 companions in that service.

Led by retired USAF Master Sgt. Diana Lieber and her therapy Dog Bentley, other dogs and their owners muster for the Memorial Day blessing of the pets and pet parade. Royal Examiner Photos/Roger Bianchini

Featured speaker this year was Skip Rogers, founder and executive director of the Able Forces Foundation that provides assistance, financial and otherwise, to military and veteran families in crisis.

At left County Board Chairman and Army vet Dan Murray stands as keynote speaker Skip Rogers acknowledges each branch of the military – to right event Co-Chair Rob McDougall, and at far left FR Vice-Mayor Bill Sealock, await the call to Marines present.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Vince McLaughlin of Rockland Community Church gave a stirring invocation.

Four local veterans, one of whom died on the World War II battlefields of Europe, and others who passed recently were honored at this year’s Memorial Day ceremonies at Front Royal’s Gazebo.

They were:

• Samuel Albert Hallman, 21, who was killed in action at the Battle of the Bulge on December 17, 1944; he was buried in Front Royal’s Pioneer Cemetery shortly thereafter.
• U.S. Army veteran Philip Funk, who passed earlier this year, was a longtime Town employee who lived in Middletown. Funk was the father-in-law of Front Royal Town Councilman Eugene Tewalt, and his wife Juanita’s dad.
• Marvin Reifsnider, who died earlier this year in his 104th year; lived in Rockland and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
• U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. (retired) Norman Brander. For many years Brander was a member of the Randolph-Macon Academy staff and president of the local chapter of the Air Force Association (AFA).

The AFA, along with the Town of Front Royal, the Humane Society of Warren County, and the Warren County Rotary Club, are co-sponsors of the event founded seven years ago by former AP reporter, U.S. Senate Public Information Officer, local Humane Society Board President, and veteran of Britain’s Royal Air Force – now retired from all – Malcolm Barr Sr. The event is now co-chaired by Lt. Col Rob McDougall, USMC.

The annual laying of the Memorial Wreath with the help of the R-MA Color Guard

See Rogers’ emotional keynote address on the role of service dogs in preserving the lives of their human companions at war, and the Right Reverend Dr. Vince McLaughlin of Rockland Community Church’s passionate invocation, as well as local citizens, their pets and municipal officials honor service for others in Front Royal, Virginia’s May 27th Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony and canine parade in this Royal Examiner video:

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Bagpiper Bill Wright helped open and close the event, giving Rev. McLaughlin an assist in lending a Scottish ambience to the 2019 event.

A member of the Skyline High Brass Ensemble plays Taps to close the wreath laying ceremony’s remembrance of service, sacrifice and lost friends.

Malcolm Barr’s new Husky girl Diva, formerly known as Deena

There’s always a cute one.