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JB MDL Airman honored at Bergen County K-9 Veterans Day ceremony

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Scott Saldukas
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  A group of military working dog handlers from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., were invited to attend the second annual K-9 Veterans Day celebration March 14, 2014, at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute in Mahwah, N.J.

The group, which is made up of eight handlers and four dogs, was in attendance to honor search and rescue, military and police working dogs for their dedication to their respective missions.

"The working dogs are truly amazing creatures," said Joel Trella, retired Bergen County Police chief. "If you ask any handler, they will tell you they don't see them as animals but as partners. You would do extraordinary things to protect your partner, and your partner, on a daily basis does, extraordinary things to protect you. It is hard to imagine this if you have never had the opportunity to do it, but once you have, it never leaves you."

While multiple county agencies involved with dog handling where lauded for their tireless work and contributions to the local area, a special presentation was made to Tech. Sgt. Brian Williams, 87th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, for the sacrifices he made for his country while deployed to Afghanistan in April 2012. Williams, then on his sixth deployment, sustained serious injuries to all four limbs including the loss of his left leg above the knee while clearing an improvised explosive device manufacturing compound.

"I am really happy and humbled to be here today before you, not watching above you," Williams said. "As long as I am allowed to, I will continue to serve, train, mentor, supervise and wear the uniform with honor."

Even though Williams still serves with passion, his dog, Carly, has been retired. Despite the fact they attended the event and live together now, it was not like that following his injury.

"Technically, he could have continued to work," Williams added. "But they believed that he would be able to do more for me than anyone else. So needless to say, it was an amazing feeling when we were finally reunited. Now, when I come home, I love my fiancé to death, but I look forward to seeing him more. He's a great dog and I appreciate everyone who worked so hard to allow me to adopt him."

While Williams was thankful for everyone reuniting him and his four legged partner, the people of Bergen County were beyond thankful for his service to his nation.

"We have a county medal that we give to our veterans," said Kathleen Donovan, Bergen County executive. "On one side of the medal is the seal of Bergen County and the other side has three words ... duty, honor and country. This says it all."

Donovan noted how the medal typically is awarded to county members, but that day they adopted Williams and made him an honorary member.

"With our unending gratitude for your service," she said. "We are here because of you, and men and women like you. We say thank you from all 905,000 of us in Bergen County."