BATTLE CREEK, MI (WTVB) – After a dozen years of lobbying for the U.S. Postal Service to create a stamp honoring military war dogs, in 2019 Dave Keeton of Battle Creek finally got his wish and then some.
After learning earlier this year the USPS would be issuing not just one stamp, but a block of four war dog stamps, the former Union City resident was later invited to Omaha, Nebraska August 1 to participate in the stamp unveiling ceremony at the annual American Philatelic Society Stamp Show.
“I am unbelievably excited about this opportunity that’s a culmination of everything I’ve worked for,” said Keeton, who is traveling with his wife, Cookie, to the event. “They told me I was the only one who had worked like this to get a stamp issued and they want me to talk about it and the important military role of war dogs.”
The stamp group is paying for Keeton’s flight and lodging in Omaha. He’s been working on the speech he plans to give on the momentous occasion when the red, white and blue stamp blocks that feature a German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd, Labrador Retriever and Belgian Malinois are officially released.
“They told me I will be signing autographs on Friday of the stamp show, so I’ve also been practicing my signature,” Keeton said. “They tell me stamp collectors like to get new stamps autographed at the time of their release.”
(courtesy of Kristy Smith)
