To our knowledge, there are 31 War Dog Memorials in the United States, and this is one of them, perhaps a lesser known monument that stands in Wildlife Prairie Park, Hanna City, Illinois.
The statue made in 2003 by artist/sculptor, Erin Mallon, portrays a Vietnam War era soldier with his shepherd with such detail that wrinkles in the vest and individual hairs on the dog’s coat are quite evident.
It was not a good period for soldiers and soldier dogs. Vietnam veterans were often met with hostility when they came home, and dogs and their handlers were even less remembered. This memorial was erected to honor these dogs, many of whom were left behind in Vietnam. If you’re reading this and are a veteran of that war, thank you for your service.
Photo by by Jack Duffell
In 2018 Wildlife Prairie Park allowed this statue to be moved to the Peoria County Courthouse and included in the war memorial entitled “A Final Salute.” It stands in the Courthouse Plaza on the east side of the square. “A Final Salute” was created in recognition of all service members who served since World War II, as well as conflicts that will occur in the future. A large granite memorial is on-site, along with this statue and two others. One statue is of a service member from the Korean War and another is of a service member representing more modern conflicts.