Today, we have renowned animal sculptor Susan Bahary. Susan is celebrated for her incredible bronze sculptures that pay tribute to the deep connection between humans and animals.

My first encounter with Susan was during a memorable event at the MetroParks of Cleveland. It was a beautiful November day in 2005, Veterans Day to be exact. We were there for the unveiling of the Smoky Memorial, a bronze sculpture created by Susan in honor of Bill Wynne and his famous war dog, Smoky. This moment was not only significant for Bill and his family but also left a lasting impression on everyone present.

Susan has always had a profound love for animals, a passion that has driven her career. Growing up with dogs, she began showing and breeding Afghan hounds as a teenager, developing a deep appreciation for the human-animal bond. This connection ultimately inspired her to focus her artistic talents on creating sculptures that celebrate this unique relationship.

Her journey into the art world began at an early age. Susan recalls her first sculpture in sixth grade, an animal that earned her the only encouragement she received from her teacher. This moment ignited her passion for sculpting, leading to her first official bronze piece of a famous Afghan hound at just 18 years old. Despite trying other career paths, her love for art and animals eventually drew her back to sculpting in 1989.

Susan's work is characterized by her dedication to capturing the essence of the human-animal bond. Among her notable pieces is "Always Faithful," a life-sized bronze Doberman Pinscher unveiled at the Pentagon. This sculpture pays tribute to 25 Marine dogs who served during World War II, highlighting their bravery and sacrifice. Another significant piece, "Faithful Partner," depicts a German Shepherd police dog and was commissioned by the UC Davis Veterinary School. A second casting of this sculpture appeared in the MGM Warner Brothers’ war dog movie, Max.

One of Susan's recent works includes "Sully," a life-size bronze of the service dog trained by America’s Vet Dogs for President George H. W. Bush. This sculpture is displayed at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library in Texas. Another notable piece is "Soaring Spirit," a bronze horse unveiled in 2017 in Queensland, Australia, honoring the service and sacrifice of Australian war animals.

Susan's sculptures evoke powerful emotions in those who see them, often bringing tears to the eyes of viewers. Her ability to capture the spirit and significance of these animals in her art has touched many lives.

Currently, Susan is working on the National Service Animals War Memorial, a project that has received unanimous approval from Congress. This memorial will honor all animals that have served alongside humans since the founding of the United States. It will include a wide range of service animals, from war dogs to therapy animals, recognizing their contributions to our safety and well-being.

The next steps for the memorial include site selection and finalizing the design. Susan invites everyone to support this project by visiting the National Service Animals Memorial website, where you can volunteer or donate to help bring this important tribute to life Thank you, Susan Bahary, for your incredible contributions and for sharing your story with us today.

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Greetings everyone, this is Dave with Mighty Line Minute!

In the last two podcasts we learned about Smoky The War Dog and her unofficial, yet instrumental role in serving and entertaining troops during World War II. We also learned about her trainer, Corporal William A Wynne, who as an airborne reconnaissance photographer, brought the world's attention to this small 4 pound Yorkshire Terrier found in a New Guinea foxhole.

Smoky helped to deliver calm and peace to numerous wartime personnel who were injured and suffering. She continued to serve as both a therapy dog and entertainer throughout the Midwest following Wynne's brief work as a Hollywood dog trainer.

One of the most famous military animals known in Australia is a donkey known as Murphy (also known as “Abdul” or “Duffy”). During World War I, John Simpson Kirkpatrick, an Australian soldier, used a donkey to transport wounded soldiers to safety. His actions became legendary, symbolizing bravery and selflessness in the face of danger. Simpson and his donkey became iconic figures in Australian military history.

Sergeant Stubby was an American war dog who served in World War I in France. He became famous for his bravery and loyalty, participating in numerous battles alongside U.S. Soldiers using his keen senses to warn of poison gas attacks. He even apprehended a German spy in the trenches. Sergeant Stubby is one of the most celebrated wartime dogs globally.

Wojtek was an extraordinary Syrian brown bear who was adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II. Wojtek became an official member of the Polish Army and participated in battles, carrying ammunition while providing moral support to the troops. His story is celebrated in Poland and around the world as a symbol of courage, companionship, and the bond between animals and humans during war time.

Sergeant Reckless was a war horse who served with the United States Marine Corps during The Korean War. Despite her designation as a horse, Sergeant Reckless is often celebrated alongside other famous military animals for her extraordinary contributions and bravery on the battlefield. She carried ammunition and wounded soldiers, and her story has been widely documented and celebrated. She earned numerous awards and honors, including two purple hearts.

Did you know that there was a National Services Memorial Act recently passed by Congress, which approved and authorized the building of a Memorial on federal land in Washington, DC? There is broad bipartisan support to commemorate the heroic deeds and sacrifices of service animals and handlers in the United States.

Next week, be sure to tune into Mighty Line Minute to learn more about the planning for this Memorial, as well as hearing directly from world-famed animal sculptor, Susan Bahary of San Francisco.

Thanks everyone for tuning into today's Mighty Line Minute.

I look forward to seeing you on the next one. Be sure to take a look at Mighty Line's industrial safety products to help you or your management with 5S, safety planning and code compliance. Their line of floor safety enhancements includes signage, floor striping, and safety color-coded products that are recognized as “The best of the best!”

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Welcome everyone again to Mighty Line Minute. Read our blogs and learn about Mighty Line Floor Tape here - https://mightylinetape.com/a/blog/category/mighty-lines-safety-talk-and-toolbox-talk-topics

In our last podcast, we talked about Smoky, her World War II accomplishments, her efforts post-war with Bill

Wynne, and how they worked hard to create a better world and help humanity.

Today we will follow on last week's podcast regarding Smoky and Bill and

cover some of those resources that are important to learn from. And at the end

of the day, you may learn more in terms of what you can do to help make the

world a better place. I'll begin by looking at some books, then periodicals and

film. So here we go. Let's get started.

Bill documented his story about Smoky in the self-published book,

Yorkie Doodle Dandy.

It was released in 1996 and it's now in its eighth printing going

on ninth. It has sold more than 50,000 copies, and it's available in hardback. It's

also accessible electronically in audio book format. Many other books have

been written about Smoky; they stack several feet high. I’ll be covering ones

that deal most directly with Smoky and that had been authorized by William A

Wynne himself. Here's the best of the best:

The very best book about Smoky, of course, is Yorkie Doodle Dandy, written

by Corporal William Wynne following his return to the United States in 1945

from war in the Pacific. While that effort from Bill took many years to

construct, there is an excellent publication by the 26th Photo Squadron of the

Fifth United States Army Air Force in World War II. The book, published in

1946 by members of the 26th Photo Squadron, consists largely of photography

that accurately recorded the Squadron’s World War Two experiences as they

were happening.

Smoky, the 4 pound Yorkshire Terrier that was found in a New Guinea foxhole,

commands a full page 100, where she is pictured in her famous jacket sewn by

American Red Cross nurse. She is also pictured pedaling a scooter, jumping

through a hoop and standing with her silver award cup, as well as appearing

later in her famous helmet.

The final 10 pages of the 26th Photo Squadron book are a must-read for anyone

wanting to immerse themselves in real-time events that occurred to those

traveling the Southwest Pacific during wartime. Albert J. Miller accurately

logged the departure, arrival, inter-island travel and return of the Squadron to

U.S. shores in a well-written rundown of events. A link to the entire book,

including photos, can be found at smokywardog.com.

The book Yorkie Doodle Dandy by William A. Wynne was first self-published

in 1996, and is currently in its 8th printing.

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