On Saturday, September 30, LCC Kare 9® Military Ministry Dogs Brutus (LCC Squad), Flex (LCC Squad), Nigel (LCC Staff), and Reba (LCC Squad), attended a Fall Festival in Crystal Lake, Illinois, as American Legion Post 171 guests. Children and adults loved meeting the Kare 9s and sharing compassion and peace. The children especially love getting up close with the Kare 9s.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (AM) - Wisconsin
Dulles International Airport - VirginiaLCC Kare 9® Military Ministry Dogs Amos (Our Savior's Way - Ashburn, Virginia) and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Kezia (Emmanuel - Baltimore, Maryland) arrived at Dulles International Airport to greet the veterans arriving from Wisconsin. Our Savior's Way congregation members were invited to join the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog ministry teams, and several families and veterans came out for this special event. Honor Flight veterans do not know there will be a welcome waiting for them when they arrive to visit the memorials in D.C. This surprise makes for an emotional arrival as we are present to provide the love and appreciation that our nation's heroes genuinely deserve. The handlers and ministry partners offered hugs or handshakes, smiles, and cheers to each of the 221 WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans. As Amos and Kezia's teams thanked them for their service and connected in a veteran-to-veteran moment, the veterans and their guardians experienced God's love through our presence. Many of them sincerely thanked the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog ministry teams for being there, while others struggled with emotions as we honored their service and sacrifice.
On Tuesday, September 5, LCC Kare 9® Military Ministry Dogs Brutus (LCC Squad) and Nigel (LCC Staff) paid their monthly visit to the USO at Great Lakes Naval Station. Each month LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry visits the USO to bring love and compassion to recruits and sailors who are away from home, many for the first time in their lives. It is always inspiring to meet these young people who so proudly serve our nation.
On Wednesday, August 23, the LCC Kare 9® Military Ministry had the honor of sending off and welcoming the Honor Flight Chicago #110 veterans at Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on their one-day trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the War Memorials and other sites. LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brutus (LCC Squad) with U.S. Navy Veteran Gene Weisbecker, and Nigel (LCC Staff) with U.S. Army Veteran Jim Morrison were present to show their support and gratitude for the veterans who have served our country with honor and courage.  Participating in the Wednesday flight were LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry veteran handlers Bob Royce (Combat Veteran, Vietnam) and Dale Sasse (U.S. Army, Vietnam), who shared their experience. "It was a fantastic experience from start to finish. We felt honored, appreciated, and wowed many times. My guardian was outstanding, always looking out for me. Visiting the Vietnam War Memorial Wall was particularly special for me. I found the name of my high school friend who was killed in the war. The welcome was beautiful and unexpected. It blew me away. I didn’t expect it to be that big! Seeing people greeting us, shaking hands, and seeing my family really touched me. I would tell anyone, if you haven’t taken the flight yet, do it! Fill out the application and get on the list. It’s worth it!" shared Bob. Dale shared that it was a wonderful day and would recommend it to any Veteran.  Memorable moments are too many to mention. However, one that thrilled everyone was the World War II Veteran, Gloria Kerzner, who served as a Navy Wave (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). This lovely patriot will be 100 years old in September 2023. What an honor it was to meet her. A volunteer shared, “I have worked 25 Flights, and this never gets old!” The veterans were welcomed back with open arms and a heartfelt thank you for their service. The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry is proud to have been a part of this memorable event for years and will continue to show their support for our military heroes. We salute our Veterans!
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