Awestruck by the moment

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs from 4 states bring care, celebration, and gratitude
​for 100+ Vietnam War veterans at latest Honor Flight

The veteran war hero inched slowly through the crowd at Dulles International Airport. ​

Then he stopped — awestruck by the magnitude of the welcoming scene and the outpouring of gratitude surrounding him. With stately valor, he turned around in amazement, deliberately soaking in the moment, the scene. 

The red, white, and blue mass of people were there to cheer him, to thank him along with the 107 other U.S. military members who served in Vietnam more than a half-century ago. All of them aboard three evening flights from Milwaukee, WI, to Washington, DC.

It was June 20 — Flight of Champions Day for Stars & Stripes Honor Flights — and eight LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs from Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, and Wisconsin were on hand to celebrate with them at two airports more than 1,000 miles apart. 

“It was a touching reminder that these moments of presence, appreciation, and connection can mean so much to those who have given so much in service to our country,” shared a handler for Amos Comfort Dog. 

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Wisconsin-based Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, Inc. recognizes veterans with a life-changing trip to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials and experience a day of gratitude and appreciation — and then return home to more celebration of their service.  

Six LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams saw three flights of veterans off from Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee in the afternoon — Charity (Brookfield – Brookfield, WI), Gethsemane (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, IL), Mary (St. Paul’s – Janesville, WI), and Sage (Concordia University Wisconsin).

The city lit up Hoan Memorial Bridge in festive red, white, and blue lights to recognize the service members.

Waiting for them at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, LCC Comfort Dogs Amos (Our Savior’s Way – Ashburn, VA) and Kezia (Emmanuel – Baltimore, MD) with flags, firm handshakes, and wagging tails.

“Once again, we invited members of Our Savior's Way Lutheran to join Team Kezia and Team Amos in welcoming Honor Flight veterans home, and we were blessed with a wonderful turnout,” one of Amos’ handlers said.

The teams set up near the bus loading area, where the veteran’s and their volunteer guardians have time to linger before they get onboard.

“As we looked these heroes in the eyes and shared a handshake or a hug, each veteran received a warm greeting and heartfelt thanks for their service,” a member of Team Kezia said. “We also witnessed the emotions of their guardians, many of whom were moved to tears as they saw just how deeply their loved ones were honored and appreciated.”

LCC thanks the following volunteers for showing their appreciation and gratitude for some of our nation’s veterans:

Amos

Charity
Becky Kilvinger
Patti Kilvinger
Sandi Dolab
 
Gethsemane
Nichole Todd
Chelsi Todd

Kezia
Ric Durham 
Edgar Cohen

Mary
Cheryl Skelly      
Tom Skelly  

Sage
Billy Matt
Abigail Matt