Zach Medlin’s casual stroll through Kiroli Park in West Monroe, Louisiana, led to an unexpected find—a small gravestone hidden under leaves and pine needles. Medlin uncovered the stone, revealing the inscription: “Buddie, 1928 — 1941, born a dog and died a gentleman.” Medlin, intrigued by the mystery, shared, “I had to clear the pine straw out of the way to read what the grave marker had to say.”
The inscription hinted at Buddie’s significance during the Great Depression, providing comfort to his family. Medlin reflected, “Knowing that Buddie provided comfort during the Great Depression is truly heartening. All dogs deserve a grave marker.”
Local lore suggested Buddie was the Boy Scouts’ summer camp mascot, credited with saving a drowning boy. However, research contradicts this, with a note from Mrs. Dee Strickland indicating Buddie belonged to the Jones family, who chose to lay him to rest in Kiroli Park.
Whether hero to the Boy Scouts or just his family, Buddie remains a good boy, memorialized in a heartwarming tribute that unveils tales of loyalty, courage, and love even in unexpected places.
