2022 AWP Medalists

2022 Animals in War & Peace Medalists

2022 Animals in War and Peace Medalists gather together in celebration. They are (back row, l-to-r) Taylor Canfield and Nico (standing in for Cairo MOB #10); Jay Wynne and Anna Wynne for Smoky (DSM #2); Sean Hemphill and Ziggy (MOB #11); Petty Officer Cory Sumner and K9 Feco (DSM #3); Brian Throneburg for Nemo A534 (MOB #9); and Marshall Mirarchi and K9 Hurricane (DSM #1). ) Front row, AWP Board members (l-to-r): Jocelyn Russell (monument artist); Robin Hutton (President), Karen Storms; Mari Lou Livingood (The Livingood Group).

Click here to watch the full 2022 CEREMONY.

2022 ANIMALS IN WAR & PEACE MEDAL RECIPIENT videoS

DSM #1: K9 Hurricane

U.S. Secret Service (Belgian Malinois) In 2014, Hurricane protected President Barrack Obama and the first family when he stopped an intruder who breached the White House perimeter fence racing towards the residence. Despite being kicked and punched; Hurricane held the intruder captive until armed officers apprehended him. In 2019, he received Great Britain’s PDSA Order of Merit (Britain’s medal for Outstanding Devotion and Service to Society).

Video courtesy of PDSA and Retriever. Photos courtesy of Marshall Mirarchi.

DSM #2: Smoky

World War II - 5th Army Air Force (Yorkshire Terrier) During WW2, Smoky strung communication wire 70’ through an eight-inch pipe in Luzon, Philippines. Because of her efforts, she saved the landing strip from destruction exposing forty war planes and 250 military personnel to the Japanese. Smoky is also the “First Therapy Dog of Record,” according to Animal Planet.

Video courtesy of PDSA. Photos courtesy of Smoky War Dog LLC.

Music: "Expression" by Helen Jane Long

DSM #3: K9 Feco (W327)

U.S. COAST GUARD - Homeland Security, MSST San Francisco (Hungarian Viszla) - Feco is part of the Canine Explosive Detection Team at Maritime Safety & Security Team San Francisco. Still serving, Feco has tirelessly conducted over 1335 searches, including vehicles, cargo vessels and ferries, buildings, luggage, people, and mass transit facilities. Feco has spent over 2335 hours conducting more than 584 demanding patrols around the Bay area protecting the California coastline.

Video and photos courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard.

Music: "Passes" by Helen Jane Long

MOB #9: Nemo A534

U.S. Air Force - Vietnam War (German Shepherd) In 1966, while on sentry patrol, Nemo alerted his unit on a group of enemy commandoes hiding in the brush. As Nemo charged them, he was shot twice: once in the nose, and then under his right eye which exited his mouth. His handler was also shot twice, and even though Nemo was wounded, he crawled across his handler and protected him until help arrived.

War footage courtesy of Marking History Channel.

Music: "When Angels Rise" by Helen Jane Long

MOB #10: Cairo

U.S. Navy, SEAL Team 6 - Afghanistan (Belgian Malinois) In 2011, Cairo took part in “Operation Neptune Spear,” the raid that eliminated Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Cairo provided perimeter security during the raid, searching for bombs and escape tunnels. After all clear, they went inside the building. During his tours, Cairo was shot twice in the line-of-duty, recovered, and continued serving.

War footage courtesy of Marking History Channel.

Music: "Messenger" by Helen Jane Long

MOB #11: MPC Ziggy

U.S. Marine Corps, Special Operations Command (German Shepherd - Multi-Purpose Canine) Deployed five times to four separate countries, Ziggy conducted over fifty heliborne direct action raids and assisted in discovering forty-three weapons caches, twelve homemade explosive facilities, one vehicle-borne IED, 330 anti-personnel IED’s and over 5,000 pounds of homemade explosives.

Photos courtesy of Sean Hemphill.

Six Canines Awarded with Medals of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medals

The Second Annual Animals in War and Peace Medal Ceremony honored six exceptional canine heroes for their service to our nation. This national tribute, which took place on Capitol Hill on March 9th, underscores America’s gratitude of the sacrifices, heroism, and extraordinary skills of American animals that have served and continue to serve our country.

Members of Congress presented the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery to NEMO (Air Force/Vietnam); CAIRO (U.S. Navy SEAL, Afghanistan); and MPC ZIGGY (Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC)), for their courage and sacrifice on behalf of our nation.

Members of Congress also presented the new Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medal to K9 HURRICANE (U.S. Secret Service (Ret.); SMOKY (5th Army Air Force-WWII; and FECO (Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, for their exceptionally meritorious service to our country in the duty of great responsibility.

The Second Annual Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery Ceremony followed another milestone for our nation’s animal heroes when Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) presented Resolution H.Res.935, on February 18, 2022. H.R. 935 acknowledges the importance of recognizing and honoring our animals and their valiant human handlers for bravery in war and peace. Members of Congress who joined Representative Roybal-Allard as original cosponsors on this first bi-partisan House resolution include Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Julia Brownley (CA), Chris Pappas (NH), Charlie Crist (FL), Jamie Raskin (MD), Sanford Bishop (GA), Ted Lieu (CA), Gus Bilirakis (FL), Elaine Luria (VA), Dina Titus (NV), and Mike Quigley (IL).

Among the notables in attendance at the Second Annual Animals in War and Peace Medal Ceremony: U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop, Jr., U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis, U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus, The Reverend Dr. Margaret Grun Kibben, Chaplain, U.S. House of Representatives, Major General Thomas P. Kane, US Air Force (Ret), LTJG Anthony Kostek, Assistant Operations Officer of MSST San Francisco, and Michael Buck, Assistant Chief of the Uniformed Division, United States Secret Service.

The Application Process is now open for 2023 until August 31, 2022. Please click here for forms, or email WarAnimals@yahoo.com for the application.

Donor Wall 2022

Sponsors/Donors

PLATINUM DONORS $5,000+

Art Allen - Naples, FL

Deborah Sergesketter - Greeley, CO

Mary & Gary West - Rancho Santa Fe, CA

VFW Post 2916 - Baltimore, MD

GOLD DONORS $2,500+

Ramona and Lee Bass - Ft. Worth, TX

Timothy T Day Foundation - Phoenix, AZ

MedVet - Worthington, OH

Peterson Family Foundation - Fairfax, VA

- Martha and Steven Peterson

SILVER DONORS $1,000+

James E. "Ted" Bassett

Donna Fleece - Treasure Island, FL

Robin Lightner - Teton Village, WY

BRONZE DONORS $500+

Thomas Carbone - Yonkers, NY

Jamie McLaughlin - Chicago, IL

DG and Trish van Clief Jr. - Charlottesville, VA

DONORS

Ida Mae Astute - Washington Township, NJ

Patrick Dwyer - Horseheads, NY

Shelley Laub - Columbia, MD

Zane Lockhart - Louisville, KY

Elizabeth Macalaster - Brunswick, ME

Ronald Marechek - Parrish, FL

Kathy Mckee - Temecula, CA

Valerie Ormond - Bowie, MD

William and Lisa Roskens - Omaha, NE

Click here to donate

2022 Ceremony Highlights

The 2nd Animals in War and Peace Medal Ceremony is now in the record books, and it was a resounding success!

We honored six incredible heroes - 3 for Medal of Bravery: Nemo (Vietnam War); Cairo (U.S. Navy Seal Team 6 - Osama Bin Laden raid); and MPC Ziggy (MARSOC); and 3 for the new Distinguished Service Medal : K9 Hurricane (U.S. Secret Service); Smoky (WW2, 5th Army/Air Force); and K9 Feco (Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, MSST San Francisco).

Click here to read their stories!

Click here to watch the full Ceremony!

Group Photo Above

2022 Animals in War and Peace Medalists gather together in celebration.

They are (l-to-r) Taylor Canfield and Nico (standing in for Cairo MOB #10); Jay Wynne and Anna Wynne for Smoky (DSM #2); Sean Hemphill and Ziggy (MOB #11); Petty Officer Cory Sumner and K9 Feco (DSM #3); Brian Throneburg for Nemo A534 (MOB #9); and Marshall Mirarchi and K9 Hurricane (DSM #1).)

2022 Animals in War & Peace Ceremony - March 9, 2022