TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - LeClair Monuments is an unassuming little shop on Lambertville’s outskirts that looks much like others of its kind, with headstones lined up outside.
But owner Leo LeClair of Toledo has taken on a special task at the Consear Road family business, creating grave markers for K-9s interred at the Michigan War Dog Memorial near South Lyon, Mich.
“Those dogs are something else. They save a lot of human lives,” Mr. LeClair, 63, said. “They deserve something.”
Phil Weitlauf, director of the memorial, said the property was created as a pet cemetery in 1936. A huge stone memorial in honor of the war dog was erected in 1946. The property was essentially abandoned during the 1980s but was rediscovered in 2010.
“Over the years, (military working dogs) have been considered a forgotten hero. But look at what they did,” Weilauf said.
He cited military records crediting K-9s with saving 15,000 troops during World War II, 3,000 in the Korean War, and another 10,000 in Vietnam.
“That’s a lot of people that wouldn’t have come home if it wasn’t for a dog,” he said. “We should show respect and honor them for what they’ve done to protect us.”
LeClair created the stone for the first burial there in 2013 for a Chesapeake Bay retriever named Buddy. Buddy was an explosives-detection dog for the Transportation Security Administration who was adopted by the Spader family in 2010.
“He did such a nice job and put so much care and attention into it,” Tracy Spader said.
Mrs. Spader created the K9 Defender Fund to help supply K-9s with needed gear and medical supplies, and has helped LeClair and Weitlauf coordinate all of the subsequent headstones. LeClair has made nine stones now, the most recent two finished last week for a ceremony to be held April 18.
LeClair said he loves animals and has a soft spot for the military. His grandfather, father, son, and grandson have all served their country. He was drafted for the Vietnam War, but failed the physical exam.
For the K-9 headstones, he charges just enough to cover his costs plus transportation to install the stones.
“It’s kind of become his labor of love,” Spader said. “He’s not a boastful guy. He’s a quiet, humble human.”
LeClair said he feels the task is a kind of duty.
“How many people think of (the dogs) and what they do? They’re veterans too,” LeClair said. “Nobody works cheaper, and they are willing - whether they are aware of it or not - to put their life on the line.”
While the information and various images are personalized, the upright, gray granite monuments all adhere to the same overall design and are the same size.
Once LeClair receives an order, he plugs the information into the design. That is then submitted for approval and any necessary tweaking is done. The design is then programmed into a computerized machine that cuts it into a sheet of rubber to be affixed to the stone’s face. LeClair can then remove the letters and other cut-outs and send the stone through the sandblaster.
The nonprofit memorial pays for stones and burials with donated funds. Ceremonies include full military honors and 30-second salutes by eight howling German shepherds.
The memorial is open to all working dogs, including law enforcement K-9s, search and rescue dogs, and therapy and service dogs for people with disabilities.
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Information from: The Blade, https://www.toledoblade.com/
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