As a followup to the August 1 release of the Military Working Dogs stamps that we designed for USPS, we learned that local post offices often have their own release ceremonies commemorating particular stamps. In the case of our stamps, we learned that the San Diego branch of the post office would be holding a ceremony at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base at their very own K9 Division. We were invited to speak at the ceremony among other guest speakers including MWD (military working dog) handlers, military officers, and the postmasters of San Diego and Oceanside. The ceremony also included demonstrations by the dogs themselves, running their agility course and demonstrating bite and takedown techniques.

To say that the event exceeded our expectations would be understatement. And the fact that the event took place in our hometown of San Diego, and that our families could attend, made the event especially meaningful. But it was the firsthand stories from dog handlers and members of the K9 division that train and work with the dogs that were truly touching.

A big thanks to Michelle and Gloria at USPS and everyone who made this event possible. This post includes some of the media coverage from the event including some of our remarks, the NBC news coverage of the ceremony, the dog demonstrations, and a live lineup of dogs representing the four dog breeds that appear on the stamps themselves.

Video Coverage by Lance Cpl. Drake Nickels

NBC 7 San Diego Coverage

Ceremony Photos