It’ll probably be the biggest event Los Angeles has ever seen: The unveiling of the a national monument for dogs that served in the armed forces.

The first national monument to pay tribute to military dogs will be unveiled in California in just two months in Los Angeles. The U.S. Working Dog Teams National Monument will honor every dog that has served in combat since World War II.

Dogs have been used in war since ancient times, dating back to the mid 7th century, but there’s never been a monument dedicated to them until now.

When I wrote my book Heroes: 50 Stories of the American Spirit, which highlighted 50 heroes of September 11, I dedicated one of those entries to the rescue dogs that worked the debris piles at Ground Zero. The dedication and sheer determination of these four-pawed creatures so moved me, I get choked up just thinking about them. And I am not a dog person.

So I say it’s about time that we honored those unsung heroes, the countless number who have served our country in the past and the 2300 currently serving.