Died 2\/1\/18<\/p>\n
Retired military dog buried in Abingdon with full military honors<\/p>\n
Falco used to sniff every car that came down the Harris family\u2019s driveway\u2014 not because he was curious, but because it was his job. The 14-year-old Belgian Malinois, who served as a patrol and narcotics detector dog in the Army for 10 years, was laid to rest Thursday evening with full military honors. He died Feb. 1 after spending four years in retirement with his adopted family on a Rich Valley, Virginia, farm. Members of the Virginia National Guard and the Highlands Veterans Honor Guard performed the military honors at a memorial service at Forest Hills Memory Gardens in Abingdon. A three-volley salute was performed and taps was played. \u201cWe can learn a lot from our departed comrades, [such as] kindness and loyalty,\u201d said Danny Hollyfield, a member of the honor guard. Falco spent his military career at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and served with 11 military personnel. He served with the 42nd Military Police and 550th Military Working Dog Detachment. \u201cHe was a funny dog, even though he was very serious,\u201d said owner Robin Harris. \u201cHe didn\u2019t know he was in retirement \u2026 he would sniff every inch of our lawn and all the cars.\u201dFalco retired on Nov. 17, 2013 \u2014 the same day he was adopted by Robin and her husband, Hamilton. \u201cMy husband was in the Army, and we wondered what happened to the dogs after they retired,\u201d Robin Harris said. \u201cWe thought they deserved to have a good retirement.\u201d It took Falco about a year to relax from his military duties, she said. \u201cIt took a little time, but Falco adjusted to life well on the farm at Rich Valley,\u201d she said. \u201cHe seemed to enjoy the low key life there.\u201d Hamilton Harris said Falco did not walk \u2014 he marched. \u201cI took him swimming, and he played in the snow,\u201d he said.The family was presented a folded American flag, customary of military funerals. The flag was unfolded and refolded in silence as part of the presentation. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1994 attended the service. Commander Dickie Kiser said it was the first time he\u2019s attended a service for a military dog. \u201cI just think this [the service] represents our neighborhood and community and our support for the military,\u201d Kiser said.Falco also worked with the U.S. Customs Service with the president\u2019s drug interdiction program and conducted demonstrations for Army recruiters throughout the Southeast and for the Fort Bragg community.Robin Harris said Falco was one of the oldest retired military dogs that they knew of. Shayleen and Layne Smith, Robin Harris\u2019 children, said Falco was a good companion. \u201cHe was a really good dog, and he was very protective of us, too,\u201d Shayleen Smith said. Layne Smith said Falco was a good buddy, a loyal and sweet dog.\u201cSearching a car can be one heck of a first impression,\u201d he said with a laugh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Died 2\/1\/18 Retired military dog buried in Abingdon with full military honors Falco used to sniff every car that came down the Harris family\u2019s driveway\u2014 not because he was curious, but because it was his job. The 14-year-old Belgian Malinois, who served as a patrol and narcotics detector dog in the Army for 10 years, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4592,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[108],"class_list":["post-4590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-military","tag-fort-bragg"],"yoast_head":"\n