Tribute to Search-and-Rescue, Police + Military Dogs On Show in Banning

A former ambulance used to transport service dogs, given new life as a moving tribute to search-and-rescue, police and military canines, was on show in public Friday in Banning.

Rendered by airbrush artist , the newly-painted ambulance first appeared Friday morning at Fire Memories Museum, 5261 W. Wilson St., and Friday afternoon at Banning Civic Center.

The job was commissioned by a charity nonprofit called America's Forgotten Heroes, of Los Gatos, south of San Francisco, Dingmasters owner Rob Linn said.

Harris flew from Tennessee last week to work on the project at Dingmasters of Banning, and he worked with several San Gorgonio Pass graphic artists as well as Dingmasters staff to complete the tribute this week.

Locals who helped detail include Oleg Ivaschuk, of Xenia Pacific Printing & Advertising in Banning, and Stan Houghton of Howtons Custom Pinstriping & Gold Leaf in Poppet Flats.

Dingmasters manager Charles Young said sponsors for the project include Mickey Harris Art, Dingmasters, Smitty's Auto Paints, Wicked Colors and Badger Airbrush.

During a ceremony Friday afternoon at Banning Civic Center, Harris and Dingmasters accepted a President's National Volunteer Service Award.