Dog owners are invited to submit photos of their dogs for a Sgt. Stubby Look-A-Like Contest as part of Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center’s (KTM&HC) WWI Family Day on Sunday, June 17, from 12 to 4 pm.
Stubby was a stray found wandering near Yale University in New Haven, CT, where the 102nd Infantry Regiment were training. Private First-Class Robert Conroy developed a fondness for the mutt and named him for his short, constantly-wagging tail. Stubby was smuggled to France when the 102nd was sent to the front lines. Stubby was allowed to stay with the regiment and became its official mascot. Stubby participated in 17 battles from 1917 to 1918. He warned his regiment of mustard gas attacks and incoming artillery attacks, found and comforted wounded soldiers, and once caught a German spy (by the seat of his pants). Stubby's story was recently told as an animated feature-film, Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero.
Visitors to WWI Family Day will vote on which dog looks most like Sgt. Stubby. The winning photo will be announced at the end of WWI Family Day.
WWI Family Day will also feature WWI reenactors, a restored WWI Ambulance, a life-size replica trench, Julia Gilbert's “Doughboy Send Offs,” museum tours, period dance performance, kids’ activities, and much more. Admission to WWI Family Day is free. WWI Family Day is underwritten by a grant from The Ridgefield Thrift Shop.
Caption: A photo of Sgt. Stubby wearing his medals after WWI. Photo from the Connecticut State Library.