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 ...
There’s still hope for this nation, folks.
What a sad but sweet story.....
I’m sure Charlie Gard will be happy with 4-footed buddies to hug.
That is a hero. McCain never was.
Im at work struggling hard to keep from crying.
= = = = = = = = = =
Thanks.
I was wondering why my eyes clouded over and a salty discharge was dripping down my cheek.
RIP Marine Cena!!
Thanks for bringing him up in a thread to remember the dog. Unbelievable.
A US Marine & His Handler US Marine on the way to Rainbow Bridge
Cena, tell my friends I said ‘Hello’
RAINBOW BRIDGE
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
McCain is on a lot of minds today. Sorry you were offended by that. Snowflakes are fragile. It struck me that McCain is far less worthy of respect than a dog.
The very definition of honor, Valor, courage, and unconditional love.
Glad they honored this noble, magnificent gift from God this way. Semper Fi.
Hard to view,but wonderful at the same time.
I’m with you. I’ve had many dogs over my 61 years, loved every one of them and was blessed to have had them in my life. I had one golden retriever, Chance, that helped me raise four kids when I was in the Army. He lived to be 15 before I had to put him down. I held him while he slipped away and cried like a baby for longer than I care to admit after he was gone.
I’m with you. I’ve had a lot of dogs over the course of my 61 years on this earth, loved every one of them and was blessed to have had them in my life. One in particular, a golden retriever named Chance, helped me raise four kids while I was in the Army. He lived to be 15 before I had to put him down. I held him close and talked to him while he slipped away and I cried like a baby afterward for longer than I care to admit.
God bless Cena and God bless LCpl Young and every member of our armed forces.
My wife and I had to put down a beloved Beagle 2 years ago. She was 11 years old, but had failing health. It was only got to get worse, so we made the decision. This was not the first animal I had to put down, but it was the most difficult. We told the vet who administered the injections that we wanted to bring her trusted dog bed with us. I came after work to his office, and the dog greeted me with love and excitement, as she always had done.
The night before, we gave her steak and ice cream. I could not focus my thoughts, and spent the entire night lying awake on my bed, while the dog rested at my feet. I could hear her labored breathing. That went on for hours.
The vet gave us about a half hour, and then came back in to administer the first injection, and then the second deadly one.
After her heart stopped, we both stayed with her and cried very hard.
When I got home, I felt all the stages of grief for days.
We had another Beagle, and she was doing the same. They were not sisters, but very close.
A few months later, we decided to get another Beagle. We found a litter of puppies and picked one out, but when the time came, we ended up taking two of them home with us (sisters from the same litter). They were inseparable, and we figured, why not?
But I still think of our old dog often. They really are part of the family.
Dena, we’ll meet again around the great campfire in the sky.
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