The U.S. Postal Service released their newest line of postage stamps on Aug. 1 that honors the military’s working canines.
The new stamps are red, white and blue and feature a German shepherd, Dutch shepherd, Labrador retriever, and Belgian Malinois, all of which are common breeds among military working dogs, Stars and Stripes reported.
Each breed of dog is displayed “posing against a backdrop of a white star against a red or blue background” while wearing a working harness.
The Postal Service issued a statement stating the new design is intended to “honor the nation’s brave and loyal canines.”
Military working dogs have aided U.S. soldiers in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, according to the United States Postal Service.
The U.S. has made use of military working dogs since the first World War because their sense of smell and sight “are literally superhuman,” Stars and Stripes stated.
The working dogs have been used for detecting narcotics and explosives, search and rescue, and security, assisting in missions that soldiers couldn’t accomplish on their own.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael DeCarli, a master-at-arms at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, told Stars and Stripes he feels privileged to have his career presented on the new stamps and plans on buying them.
DeCarli and his 6-year-old German shepherd, Adam, were deployed in 2018 to Qatar and Syria to detect explosives.
He said, “Postage stamps for a long time have been a collector’s item featuring important people and events. To be considered in that, I feel very honored as part of the [dog-handler] community.”
American military working dogs and their handlers conduct training in the 341st Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base just outside of San Antonio, Texas.
Chief Petty Officer Autumn NoRunnerHerron, a master-at-arms and regional kennel master for Navy Region Japan, said the stamps will help civilians be more aware and “helping them understand the contribution of the 1 percent that serve and the smaller percentage of those who earn the title of K9.”
She added, “The military working dog is born into service without anyone asking them if they wish to serve. Even with this fact of involuntary service, the military working dog is still the bravest and most dependable of warriors on the battlefield and at home.”
In a statement, the Post Office said, the new stamps cost 55 cents and are “forever” stamps, meaning they “will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.”
