A Site Dedicated to Our four-legged and winged heroes that have served
Photo: Past recipients of the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medals.
Incredible heroes!
The 4th Animals in War & Peace Ceremony 2024
The Fourth Annual Animals in War & Peace Ceremony
Honored Seven Extraordinary Canine Heroes
(Washington, D.C. – March 13, 2024) The Fourth Annual Animals in War & Peace Medal Ceremony honored seven extraordinary canines on March 6, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC whose achievements made a significant impact in both times of war and peace. Members of Congress presented each animal with a medal to recognize its courage and sacrifice to the United States. Great Britain is the only country that currently recognize our American animals in times of war and peace.
The prestigious Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery award was bestowed upon four canines that have served in past conflicts, as well as current working or retired military dogs representing various branches of U.S. military services, service animals, and First Responders. The 2024 Animals in War & Peace Medal of Braveryrecipients:
- K9 Yoda - U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Unit BORTAC, Detroit Sector (presented by Cong. Jamie Raskin)
- K9 Endo and K9 Ax – Volusia, FL Sheriff’s Office (presented by Cong. Julia Brownley and Cong. Gus Bilirakis)
- K9 Kitt 823K–Braintree, MA Police Department (Posthumously honored) (presented by Cong. Jamie Raskin)
The Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medal recognizes animals for their exceptionally meritorious service to the United States in roles of great responsibility. The 2024 Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medal recipients:
- K9 Cody - U.S. Embassy in Baghdad / American K9 Interdiction, VA (presented by Cong. Michael Quigley)
- K9 Bane - St. Francis Police Department / FBI Milwaukee SWAT, WI (presented by Cong. Bryan Steil)
- K9 Sonya V558 - U.S. Coast Guard MSST (Seattle)/MSRT-W, San Diego, CA (presented by Cong. Marc Veasey)
A second House Resolution 1054 was introduced on March 5, 2024, to continue the tireless efforts of creating the annual process of ‘Congressionally mandated’ awards. The 2024 resolution sponsored by Representative Julia Brownley (CA) and Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL) acknowledges the importance of recognizing and honoring Canine Heroes and their valiant human handlers for bravery in war and peace.
“The Animals in War & Peace Ceremony has become a time-honored tradition on Capitol Hill over the last several years, and throughout our history, highly-trained animals have been on numerous frontlines risking their lives to save the lives of others,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA). “Along with their handlers, these animals are nothing short of extraordinary.” Congresswoman Brownley is one of the lead sponsors, along with Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL), of the newly introduced House Resolution 1054, which recognizes and honors canine heroes and their human handlers for bravery and distinguished service in war and peace. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/1054/text
Photos of the animals are available by contacting Robin Hutton (805-603-2174), waranimals@yahoo.com, or Mari Lou Livingood (703-297-5961), mariloulivingood@gmail.com, or go to https://AnimalsInWarAndPeace.org/ to learn more. To learn more about the medalists, click here.
Mission:The mission of Animals in War & Peace is to honor and recognize extraordinary U.S. animals for bravery in times of war and peace where their valiant human handlers will be appreciated and recognized for generations to come.
Quotes from Medal Recipient Handlers:
“The Animals in War & Peace Medal ceremony was humbling in that K9 Kitt has been accepted into a category of animals who have saved, in some instances, hundreds of human lives in significant global conflicts. It was also satisfying in that my partner’s sacrifice to save three police officers was equally acknowledged. One life or 100, what these animals do for us is true bravery.”
--William Cushing, Braintree, MA Police Department, Handler of K9 Kitt 823K (Posthumous), Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery #17
“The Animals in War & Peace award ceremony is unlike any other. This platform allows for the unique story of each of these animal heroes to not only be told, but also listened to by a captivated audience. It is wonderful to see their stories brought forward for the world to hear firsthand how valuable our animal partners are. Receiving the Medal of Bravery on behalf of my partner K9 Yoda is truly a tremendous honor. This award is a great way to highlight the dedication, service, hard work, and selflessness of our K9 partners.”
-- Padraic Berlin, U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), Detroit Sector, K9 Yoda Handler,
Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery #18
“It was so amazing to see the hard work that my girl Cody, and so many other K-9s do on a daily basis… without zero expectation of recognition or regard for themselves… finally getting the recognition and honor that they deserve. You don’t realize sometimes the work that you and your K-9 partner are doing until someone stops you and says, “Wow thanks for all you do.” So it was humbling not only for Cody to receive the Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service #5, but to be included alongside some of the other amazing teams that were there to receive a medal as well.”
-- James Overton, American K9 Interdiction (Carrsville, VA), K9 Cody’s Owner, Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medal #5
"I cannot thank the board for Animals in War & Peace enough for selecting K9 Bane and honoring him with Distinguished Service Medal #6 at the US Capitol last week. I was privileged to walk side-by-side with K9 Bane while he protected his community for almost 7 years, and I'm even more humbled that he was nominated by the men and women he served with. He is my best friend, guardian, and protector, and because of this, I will always have his six."
-- Det. Holly McManus, St. Francis Police Dept./FBI Milwaukee SWAT, WI, K9 Bane’s Owner, Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medal #6
Photo Above - Learn More
The 2024 Animals in War and Peace Medalists and AWP Board members. Front row: Linda Blick, Chief James Grant (Sonya's owner), Mari Lou Livingood, K9 Sonya DSM #7, Kristen Douglas-Seitz Jocelyn Russell - Secretariat Monuments, Robin Hutton. Back Row: William Cushing (K9 Kitt MOB # 17, posthumous), Padraic Berlin (K9 Yoda handler), K9 Yoda (MOB #18), Chuck Rotenberry, K9 Bane DSM #6, Det. Holly McManus (K9 Bane owner), Dr. Richard Vargus, James Overton and K9 Cody DSM #5, Dr. Jay Coisman, Sr. Deputy Brett Whitson and K9 Endo MOB #19, David Kontny, Deputy AJ Davis and K9 Ax MOB #19.
To view all of the 2024 Medalists' stories, click the link below.
Medal of Bravery
Read more about the Medal of Bravery and what we are doing to move forward to make this a Congressionally mandated award. (Click here)
Distinguished Service Medal
Read more about the Distinguished Service Medal (Click Here)
A new Traveling Museum honoring animals that have served in war
They had no voice ... they had no choice ... but now they will be honored and remembered for generations to come. (Click here)
War Animals: The Unsung Heroes of World War II
The latest book from New York Times bestselling author, Robin Hutton, honoring the animals that served in World War II. Many animals in the book received the British award, the PDSA Dickin Medal, also known as the "Victoria Cross for Animals." These stories also inspired the new Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medal, and the International War Animals Museum. (Click here)
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The first recipients of the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medals
The first recipients of the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medals
Click on the image to read more about the Inaugural Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery Recipients
The first recipients of the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medals
The first recipients of the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medals
The first recipients of the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medals
Click on the image to read more about the first Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medalists
America's Greatest War Horse
Sgt Reckless
LIFE Magazine’s “Celebrating Our Heroes,” lists alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, a small Mongolian mare who became the greatest war hero horse in American history. Click here to learn more!