On Saturday, September 24, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brutus (LCC Squad) and Nigel (LCC Staff) were on hand to welcome the Gold Star 500 riders as they completed their ride at Great Lakes Naval Station in North Chicago, Illinois. This fifth annual event works to preserve the legacy and honor of those service men and service women from Illinois who have made the ultimate sacrifice in support of service to this great nation since 2001. This year’s Gold Star 500 bicycle ride from September 20-24 had new faces from overseas as 12 riders and 12 volunteers from Poland joined the ride. These new participants included members of the Polish military and members of Polish families who have lost loved ones in Iraq or Afghanistan. This year’s ride started in Springfield with stops in Quincy, Galesburg, Rock Falls, and Woodstock before finishing at the Great Lakes Naval Station. Many volunteers with Gold Star Mission are active or retired members of the Illinois National Guard, which has shared a State Partnership Program with Poland since 1993. Some of those volunteers co-deployed with the Polish to either Iraq or Afghanistan. The Polish participants learned about Gold Star Mission by meeting these troops and are considering starting a similar organization in Poland. The Kare 9s brought their special love and compassion to the riders, families, and friends.
On Wednesday, August 24, the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry was invited to Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, to send off and, for the first time, welcome the Honor Flight Chicago 104 veterans returning from their one-day trip to Washington, D.C. The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs and their veteran handlers have served at the Honor Flight Chicago since 2018, providing comfort to the veterans moving through five processing stations in the baggage claim area before their flight.
They were excited to be there for the first time to welcome 111 veterans, including 4 WWII, 10 Korean War, and 97 Vietnam Veterans on board Honor Flight Chicago 104. LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Asher (Faith - Lake Forest, Illinois) with U.S. Army Veteran Bill Hume, Brutus (LCC Squad) with U.S. Navy Veteran Gene Weisbecker, and Nigel (LCC Staff) with U.S. Army Veteran Jim Morrison had a unique opportunity to spend time with the families awaiting their loved ones on the Honor Flight, and listening to their stories.
The Kare 9s and their veteran handlers were on hand as the veterans exited the plane and moved through the concourse on the upper level, welcomed by Bagpipers and Honor Guard. They saluted them, shook their hands, and thanked them for their service and sacrifice. They were also present on the lower level, where the veterans received a cheerful welcome from their families and friends, many holding signs “Welcome Home.”
The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry is deeply honored to have been part of this special event to serve and cheer our veterans and help give them the Welcome Home they truly deserve but never received. We salute our Veterans!
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