Posted on 07/28/2017 5:55:07 AM PDT by SkyPilot
Hundreds of people in Michigan came together to say a tear-filled final goodbye to a cancer-stricken dog who served three tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines.
Cena the 10-year-old black lab received a hero's farewell Wednesday before being euthanized at the USS LST 393, a museum ship in Muskegon, and carried off in a flag-draped coffin.
Cena, who was recently diagnosed with terminal bone cancer, was a bomb-sniffer for the Marines until his retirement in 2014. The celebration for Cena was organized by his owner, Lance Cpl. Jeff Young, who was paired with the dog in 2009 and 2010 while on a combat tour in Afghanistan and who adopted him in 2014. Cena then became DeYoung's service dog to help him with his post-traumatic stress disorder.
"My whole adult life I've had Cena," DeYoung said. "When I was 19 overseas learning how to be responsible, I had Cena. And now I'm 27 and I'm having to say goodbye to one of the biggest pieces of my life."
DeYoung said he has carried Cena across rivers and thrown his body over him while under heavy fire from the Taliban. He said Cena kept DeYoung's body warm during cold desert nights, and comforted him when he lost seven friends in three weeks.
As part of the celebration, DeYoung took his dog on one last ride in a topless Jeep that was decorated and named "Cancer Response Team."
"It started off with my basically wanting to go to a dealership and wanting to borrow a Jeep for a day and really small to a community tribute or a community parade for him and he's truly deserved it all," DeYoung said. "The support, all the love people are giving him, he can see it and he can feel it."
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Damn you I am crying like a baby.
Saying goodbye to a loyal dog, much less one that has served our nation, must have been incredibly difficult for this Marine.
There are lots of articles on FR and in the news that make us frustrated, angry, and cynical.
May we be reminded that God gave us incredible animals like Cena, and that our nation is still worth defending.
This has got to be one of the most heart wrenching and beautiful pictures of the year.
I lost an English setter to bone cancer. It’s a bad way to go. Good to know this dog had such good care towards the end.
"...Cena the bomb-sniffer dog..."
Over the years I have had, loved dearly and lost many dogs. I have been with each of them at the time of their death and always had the euthanasia done in my home where they were comfortable.
Dog spelled backward is God.
Ooh rah puppy. Damn screen is blurry.
I rescue many dogs. They are family. Never put one down without it being in my arms.
I think that those are the saddest eyes I have ever seen (the dog’s). He must have been in great pain. RIP, Cena.
I love dogs and have lost my share and it is heart wrenching. To lose a dog that served with you and served our country? My god, almost too much to bear. This dog was obviously loved. Ooh rah marine......
I’m at work struggling hard to keep from crying. Cena’s story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. For me, dogs make this world liveable,so when mine must leave a piece of me goes with them. Semper fi and go in peace faithful friend.
God Bless America and all of those who serve and have served.
yes.
Cena, you served your country well. Thank you, and God Bless.
You can go Wright into /heaven it's a K-9 friendly place, Heaven's Gate has a open dog our on it.
Looks like my Dad’s old dog, Duke.
Died the day my Dad couldn’t take care of him anymore. He just went to sleep and didn’t wake up. Dad had a brain bleed.
Now I have to step away.
Take good care of Charlie Gard when he gets there
Amen.
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