9/2/14 - A full military funeral will be held in South Lyon this weekend to honor a local K-9 hero. The Michigan War Dog Memorial on Milford Road is run by a band of volunteer military veterans and K-9 supporters that work to expand awareness about the dogs and everything they do to serve and protect. Itâs been making arrangements for a new dog to be laid to rest, a German Shepard by the name of Shaman who served as a patrol, narcotics detection dog who passed away in July. Shamanâs handler was Army Staff Sergeant Dennis Asher of Howell and the pair (pictured here in 2008) was deployed to Iraq in 2006 after being diagnosed with a spinal cord disease. MWDM Director Phil Weitlauf tells WHMI Shaman retired after a lengthy career and deserves a proper burial. He says a chaplain will deliver the invocation during the full military funeral, complete with a color guard and a table of honor set up. The family wanted Shaman laid to rest at the Michigan War Dog Memorial. Burial services are offered at no charge to the handler or owner of a service dog but they are responsible for the cost of the headstone, which is around $600. Weitlauf says they organized a successful fundraiser for Shamanâs headstone and have been finalizing arrangements for his noon ceremony this Saturday, September 6th. The public is welcome to attend. Picture courtesy of John Carrington/Savannah Morning News (JM)
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