Edinburg Family Honors Late Sgt. Fieldy with Military Dog Burial Bill
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Recently, the Edinburg family said their goodbyes to Sgt. Fieldy, whose name is commemorated in the Military Dog Burial Bill. Sgt. Fieldy was a United States Marine Corps veteran who served for more than a decade. He is recognized for his undying devotion to the United States Marine Corps and his nation.
On Thursday, the 15-year-old Fieldy, who had been in a declining condition, was put to death. He was honored with most of the typical pomp and ceremony reserved for the funerals of veterans with two legs, such as a rendition of taps, a gun salute, and a flag draped over his corpse.
Sgt. Fieldy has been a beloved member of the Edinburg family for the past 12 years, bringing joy and companionship to their lives since he was adopted from an animal shelter. He will always be remembered as a cherished member of the family, and his memory will continue to bring joy to those who know him.
Although Fieldy won't be buried alongside other veterans at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, there are still other options available.
It's great to know that the two met in 2011 after Caceres was selected to be a handler! The feelings of attraction were nearly immediate.
"He was energetic," Caceres said. "He was moving incredibly fast!"
For farewells, the majority approached Fieldy's little wagon. All of the head scratches on Fieldy appeared to make him comfortable.
Finally, Caceres and his family wheeled Fieldy along with them as they marched between a double column of people carrying flags.
They entered a barn where Fieldy was terminated with compassion. As time passed, they reemerged with a gurney covering Fieldy's corpse. While a flag draped over Fieldy, Caceres and his son stood rigidly by and watched. Both Casares' wife and daughter were on the verge of tears. Despite all the pomp and circumstance associated with the military, Thursday's ceremony was just a family bidding goodbye to a pet.
Caceres' strong drive to bury Fieldy in the veteran's cemetery is fueled by the importance of family, legacy, and remembrance.
"When my kids grow up and have kids of their own, they can come down here and proudly say, 'This is your grandpa's dog, and he served our country during the war,'" he said with a smile. "He went to war, but he will come back stronger and more resilient. That's great! It's a literal thing then. That's great, it means there's no room for misinterpretation. We had the opportunity to bond and support each other during a challenging time."
Caceres has decided to have Fieldy cremated and keep his remains with the hope of eventually interring them at the cemetery.
Now he's closer than ever to achieving his objective. U.S. Representative Vicente Gonzalez (who was present on Thursday) said last month that he had filed the Sgt. Fieldy Act, which would enable military working dogs to be buried at national and select state veteran cemeteries.
"Every Marine has a home to go back to. No matter which state or town they are in," he said. Caceres and Fieldy are fortunate to have their homes located close to each other.
The Military Dog Burial Bill, named in honor of Sgt. Fieldy is a great step forward in ensuring that military dogs receive the respect they deserve. They will now have the opportunity to receive a proper burial in national cemeteries. It's great to see that the Edinburg family has taken the initiative to ensure that these brave and loyal animals are given the respect they deserve with this bill.
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