The Virginia Police Work Dog Association is honoring law enforcement dogs in a ceremony and memorial dedication at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech on Friday, October 16, 2009, at 2 p.m.

The life-size bronze memorial of a German Shepherd was sculpted by Lawrence (Larry) Reid Bechtel. Bechtel is known for his work in life-size creations. He created the “Officer Down” sculpture to honor fallen officers for the Roanoke City Police Department. “Addison Caldwell” depicts the first student to enroll at Virginia Tech.

According to a Virginia Tech press release, an estimated one hundred K-9 officers and their dogs from state and regional offices will attend. Virginia Attorney General Bill Mims will keynote the ceremony which will take place near the entrance to the college's Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

WDB7 aired an interview with Larry Bechtel this morning:

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Z. Kelly Queijo writes about business and technology, people and their passions.  She is a frequent contributor to Handshake 2.0. You're invited to follow her on Twitter at @zkellyq.