Calling all dog owners and dog lovers: you are encouraged to bring your dogs and be a part of the 4th Annual “.9K9” Virginia War Memorial Dog Walk at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Owners and their dogs are requested to arrive at 9:30 a.m. to register and be in place for the 10:00 a.m. start time.
The “.9K9” Dog Walk will commence in the Memorial’s Heilman Amphitheater at 10:00 a.m. and proceed for approximately .9 kilometers around the grounds of the Memorial at 621 South Belvidere Street in downtown Richmond. There is no fee to participate in the Dog Walk, but pre-registration is required.
The mission of the “.9K9” Virginia War Memorial Dog Walk is to honor and remember the contributions and sacrifices of military, law enforcement, search and rescue, and other service dogs on the battlefields of war and in our local communities. There will be special panels placed along the course with facts about military service dogs throughout American History. Participants will receive a special “Pawsport” to be stamped at each educational stop along the route. This event will be held rain or shine.
Participants and their dogs must register in person and complete a waiver form in person at the Virginia War Memorial between 9:30 and 9:50 a.m. on Saturday, March 14 or pre-register online at https://vawarmemorial.org/events/k9veteransday/.
Dogs must be on a leash and have an ID tag on their collars with the dog’s name and owner’s information. All dogs must be accompanied by an adult over 18. While there is no age limit for people who wish to participate, children under the age of 18 must also be accompanied by an adult. Participants do not have to have a dog to join the walk. Wheeled devices except for wheelchairs and strollers are not allowed.
Virginia is one of several states that officially acknowledges and commemorates March 13 each year as National K-9 Veterans Day. This was the date in 1942 during World War II that the U.S.
Army began training for its War Dog Program, known as the “K-9 Corps,” marking the first time that dogs were officially part of the U.S. Armed Forces.
K-9 Veterans Day has been officially commemorated in the Commonwealth of Virginia and at the Virginia War Memorial for 13 consecutive years since its inception in 2013. As March 13 falls on Friday this year, the 2026 “.9K9” Virginia War Memorial Dog Walk is being held on Saturday, March 14 to allow more dog owners and families to participate in this fun and educational event.
The Virginia War Memorial grounds and indoor exhibits will be open to the public for visitation from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 14. Admission is free and parking is available in the Memorial’s surface lot and parking deck. For more information, visit https://vawarmemorial.org/events/k9veteransday/ or https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaWarMemorial/ or call the Memorial’s information desk at 804-786-2060.
About the Virginia War Memorial
The mission of the Virginia War Memorial is to Honor Veterans, Preserve History, Educate Youth, and Inspire Patriotism in All. Dedicated in 1956, the Memorial includes the names of the nearly 12,000 Virginia heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, the Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars, and the Global War on Terrorism. The Virginia War Memorial is and will always be the Commonwealth’s tribute to those who served and most especially, to those who died defending our freedoms. Every day is truly Memorial Day at the Virginia War Memorial. The Virginia War Memorial is a division of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and serves as an integral part of its mission in support of all Virginians who have served in our military. It is located at 621 South Belvidere Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220. For more information, please visit www.vawarmemorial.org or www.dvs.virginia.gov .
About the Virginia Department of Veterans Services
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is a state government agency with more than 50 locations across the Commonwealth of Virginia. DVS traces its history to 1928 and the establishment of the Virginia War Service Bureau to assist Virginia’s World War I veterans. Today, DVS assists veterans and their families in filing claims for federal veterans benefits; provides veterans and family members with linkages to services including behavioral healthcare, housing, employment, education, and other programs. The agency operates four long-term care facilities offering in-patient skilled nursing care, memory care, and short-term rehabilitation for veterans; provides an honored final resting place for veterans and their families at three state veterans cemeteries; and operates the Virginia War Memorial, the Commonwealth’s tribute to Virginia’s men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice from World War II to the present. For more information, please visit www.dvs.virginia.gov