A Very Special Animal-versary

Not to take anything away from the 150th Anniversary of Honest Abe's Gettysburg Address, but October 19 is special for another reason. It's the birth date of my brother. Happy 7th Birthday to best little, bat-pig-dog brother that a big brindle boxer brother could ever ask for! We love you, Rog!

General Roger E. Lee, General Newlysses S. Grant and Nurse Clara Barkton

In honor of two special events that occurred on this date in history, I present you with the Boxer Address prepared for the American Boxer Club's 2013 Regional Show that was held in Gettysburg earlier last month.

The Boxer Address

Three score and eighteen years ago our fathers brought forth in New York City a new American Boxer Club, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all Boxers are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great Regional specialty, testing whether that dog, or any dog so whelped and so trained, can long endure. We are met in a great ring of competition. We have come to select the class winners, as a final chance for those who here present their hopes that one Boxer is Best Of Breed or High In Trial or Best Puppy. It is altogether correct and appropriate that we should do this.

And, with a sense of sportsmanship, we can cheer, we can applaud, we can celebrate our grand winners. The beautiful dogs, fawn and brindle, who strut here, have earned our respect, far above our poor opinions to enhance or fault. The dog world may little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it should never forget what our Boxers do here. It is for us the breeders and owners, rather, to be dedicated to the future well-being for which our dogs who compete here have thus far so nobly progressed. It is for us to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that along with these winners we continue our devotion to making the Boxer be the best of all breeds - healthy and versatile and with proper conformation - that we here highly resolve that these dogs shall not compete in vain - that this Boxer community shall have a new birth of friendship and good will - and that renewed dedication "of the Boxer, by the Boxer, for the Boxer" shall not perish from the earth.

Remember. Honor. Teach.

Help Roger, Thelma and me honor our vets — and we're not talking about Dr. Weeks or Dr. Pinney. We're talking about Veterans who have served our country and defended our freedom.

Arlington National Cemetery

Once again this year, Dog Scout Troop 161 has joined the Wreaths Across America project as a way of honoring our nation's veterans and their families by placing wreaths on fallen veterans' graves. Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization whose mission is to Remember the Fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach future generations about the cost of freedom. Each December, Wreaths Across America holds remembrance wreath laying ceremonies at participating cemeteries to honor both living and fallen veterans. This is an awesome way to let more people know why you care about our veterans and all they have sacrificed for our freedoms. Together we can show our veterans and their families that we will never forget!

In 2012, with the help of thousands of volunteers and 1382 fundraising groups, we were able to honor 420,000 veterans by placing sponsored wreaths on graves at over 800 participating locations. DSA Troop 161 alone sold 81 wreaths that were placed at Fort Indiantown Gap. Several Troop members attended the ceremony and helped place wreaths on specific grave sites. Needless to say, it was a very moving experience. Additionally, we raised $405 ($5 for every wreath sold) which we donated to Susquehanna Service Dogs with the requirement that the funds be used for a service dog for a veteran.

DSA Troop 161 will help place wreaths on graves at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery during the December 14th Ceremony. We have set a goal of selling 100 wreaths. By sponsoring a wreath for only $15, you can help us honor fallen veterans who have served to protect our freedoms and let them know that we will never forget.

There are two ways to purchase wreaths: 1) by secure credit card payment online or 2) by check payable to Wreaths Across America which Mom will be collecting. The deadline for purchasing wreaths for the 2013 Season is December 2. All materials including payment must be received by WAA by December 2 so if you are paying by check, please make sure Mom has your payment by November 28.

Sponsor a Wreath

This year's national wreath laying ceremonies will be on Saturday, December 14 at noon.