Alabama War Dog Memorial

The Alabama War Dogs Memorial Task force

Early History
The idea for an Alabama War Dogs Memorial came about in April 2005 during a casual meeting with veterans at the Alabama Veterans Memorial Park and formalized several months later after meeting John Burnam, Chairman of the National War Dogs Memorial project and Bill Wigginton, a veteran war dog handler and NWDM director. Within several months a feasibility action plan was put to paper and presented to the Executive Director of Hand-In-Paw and the Alabama Veterans Memorial Foundation. After a slow start, priorities shifted and interest waned for various reason and all entities went their separate ways. However, in December 2005 a revitalized and more dedicated task force emerged as Jim & Susan Bradshaw, and Bill Stoeffhaas of Style Advertising volunteered their services. The AWDM Task Force held their first planning meeting in January 2006. In February 2006 Marga Griffin-Jones and Virginia Cain joined the AWDM Task Force; with a project plan in hand committees were assigned and marching orders given. Our 501 (c) 3, non-profit application was granted in 21 days; the rest will be history.