Honoring our Fallen Four-Legged Heroes

Honoring our Fallen Four-Legged Heroes

By Eileen Winnick

On Monday, May 28^th at Fairfield‘s Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies, the town will be commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam.

Each year, Paul and Rob Tadduni, who are veterans, brothers and dog lovers, march in the Memorial Day Parade.

This year Paul wants to raise awareness of the many war dogs who lost lives by saving others. War dogs are often our forgotten veterans. Thousands of well trained and dedicated military dogs served in combat since the Civil War.

Their heroism is a well-kept secret.

Military records indicate war dogs saved 15,000 lives during WWII, 3,000 lives in the Korean War and an additional 10,000 during the Vietnam War. There are hundreds of stories of war dogs saving lives while sacrificing their own.

Connecticut’s very own “Stubby” was truly America’s first service dog. A Remembrance Ceremony and Statue Unveiling will happen on May 26. https://cttreesofhonor.com/events/come-to-stubbys-dedication/

Today there are more than 2,800 military canine teams scattered around the world.

Paul created a banner for the parade and it reads “Honoring our Fallen Four-Legged Heroes.” His nieces, Kailey and Amanda O’Brien, will be carrying the banner, while the Tadduni brothers will be driving vintage military vehicles with their rescue dog, Jack.