On Saturday, June 7 Military Ames held a ceremony to officially unveil the Service Dog Memorial Monument in Kimberley's Platzl.
Speakers at the event included MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke Scott McInnis, MLA for Prince George-Valemount, Captain Rosalyn Bird (23 years Navy Ret’d),Official Opposition Critic for Citizens’ Services and Military Liaison, Veteran TD Brown and Sapper Kyle Dalum (Ret’d).
Cindy Postnikoff of Military Ames stopped by the Bulletin office Monday morning and shared the following:
"Veterans and first responders gathered with the community to honour a remarkable but sometimes overlooked kind of soldier: the Service K9. Whether wearing a vest or not they provide essential safety and emotional stability for our veterans, RCMP and countless first responders.
In doing so they also make our community better, safer places.
This monument is more than a sculpture, it’s a symbol. A reminder that those who put themselves in harm’s way rarely return unchanged.
It represents not just sacrifice, but resilience and the vital role service dogs play in that ongoing battle.
Phelan saved the life of her handler, a young military veteran who had risked his own life in service to us all far from home.
That young man is my son and sadly, he is not alone.
To the people of Kimberley, your passion and support have empowered us in our journey at Military Ames we’ve always sought to honour the military, RCMP and first responders. In fact, we see the RCMP as a bridge between those two groups, uniting the spectrum of service.
It took unwavering determination and grit to reach this moment. We would not be here to day, without the steadfast support of a cherished friend and retired combat veteran Dana Urban Ret’d. Dana saw his own journey reflected in this mission. His belief in us and what we were building gave us strength when we needed it the most.
As we unveil the service dog monument, a tribute to the bond between veterans and their service dogs, we are reminded that PTSD never goes away, but fortunately with the support of each other and the community, it can get better.
Veteran TD Brown shared a story at the ceremony in the wake of the recent loss of military brother, the late Sgt. Bob Dale Ret’d, affectionately known as “Old Dog”, due to the demons of PTSD. He wore his uniform with honour, but the burden he carried became too heavy and PTSD took him in a way the battlefield never could.
This monument recognizes all service dogs, vested or not.
As someone who helped bring this monument to life I’m incredibly proud to see it stand here today. It’s a reflection of our commitment to remembrance and to education and to the deep bonds between service members and their K9 partners. For those who continue to carry their service long after the mission ends, this monument stands with you.
This monument is for all of Kimberley and beyond, we hope you will take the time to learn from it, reflect on it and, most importantly, teach your children what it represents. Please teach them to treat it not as something to climb on, but to look up to.
The day before the unveiling Sgt. Sue Harvey do a mental wellness clinic with veterans and RCMP. It was well attended and we’re looking forward to having her back and offering this gift to our local veterans and first responders."
Kyle Dalum added — "And finally to our military, RCMP and first responders, both retired and currently serving, we offer our deepest thanks. Much like the story of the phoenix I see efforts of people int he roles of peer support and emergency response, commonly rooted in injury. May each of you continue to rise from the ashes and soar. For the veterans and emergency services that aren’t here today, we ask that you support them and each other."
Postnikoff also shared her gratitude to the Kimberley Community Foundation for their “patience, trust and belief in our vision.”
She also thanked the "many businesses and individuals who donated time, materials and heart. Scott Wills Tree Service, MacKay Contracting, Countryside Nursery, BA Concrete, Kimberley Home Hardware, Signwriters and so many others. Your generosity made this possible.
"To the thousands of residents whose encouragement fuelled our focus, this is for you. And from the bottom of our hearts we thank you all."
