Golden Moments of Comfort: LCC K-9 Teams Support 88th Readiness Division Yellow Ribbon Event

From June 15–17, the 88th Readiness Division hosted more than 700 U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers and their families in Minneapolis for a pre-deployment Yellow Ribbon event. Focused on supporting units preparing for upcoming overseas missions—including the 452nd Combat Support Hospital, 113th Medical Company, 1872nd Medical Detachment, 163rd Ordnance Company, 361st Press Camp Headquarters, and the 376th Financial Management Support Unit—the event offered critical resources, guidance, and community connection to those preparing to serve abroad.

Among the many supportive elements of the weekend was the comforting presence of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams with Comfort Dogs Charity (Brookfield Lutheran - Brookfield, Wisconsin), Gethsemane (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois), Gideon (St. Michael’s - Bloomington, Minnesota), and Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois).

These four-legged ambassadors of compassion and their handlers provided not just comfort, but connection—offering smiles, calm, and a sense of peace in a weekend filled with emotion and transition.

"The Best Booth Here!"
Chelsi Todd reflected, “It was an honor to be present... I can’t even count the number of times I was told, ‘this is the best booth here!’” As service members and families moved between their information-packed breakout sessions, many made a point to pause at the K-9 booth—sometimes multiple times. Faces that looked weary or apprehensive would light up as they rounded the corner to see golden tails wagging in welcome.

Chelsi shared a particularly touching story about a family with two young girls. The children were drawn to the dogs and came back to visit throughout the weekend. One of the girls proudly showed a stuffed animal she’d named “GG” after Gethsemane, wearing a hand-drawn bandana. Their father is deploying close to the older daughter’s birthday, and the comfort the girls received from the K-9s gave the parents much-needed reassurance as they attended training.

"We Will Remember Them"
Handler Jenni Hoffmeyer summed it up poignantly: “I'm always humbled to be in the company of people who are so selfless... The entire family serves.” The event’s organizers had clearly prioritized equipping not just Soldiers, but their families, for the deployment journey—before, during, and after.

For Nichole Todd, being part of that support meant everything: “If we can be just a small part of relieving stress, giving them a break, letting them relax, it’s the least we can do.”

"It’s Going to Be Different"
Pam Lienemann, who has supported several Yellow Ribbon events over the years, shared how this event—one of the largest and most organized yet—highlighted the deep emotional landscape of deployment. She noticed three distinct groups: seasoned service members carrying quiet strength, first-timers full of nerves and questions, and repeat deployers now facing separation with young children for the first time.

“One mom said, ‘We’ve done this before—but not with kids. This time it’s going to be different,’” Pam recalled. And still, the dogs offered a refuge. “This is the most relaxing place here today,” many attendees told her, often stopping by between sessions for a quiet moment of peace.

Smiles Beyond the Uniform
The K-9s’ reach even extended to the stage. Chelsi met Szu-Yu Chu, a service member and National Anthem singer who recently moved from Taiwan. Before and after her performance, she made a beeline for the dogs. “She laid down with Gethsemane and Tobias and melted with them,” Chelsi shared. “She couldn’t have been more happy to be surrounded by golden love.”

A Ripple Effect of Service
For handler Becky Kilvinger, the experience highlighted the unseen layers of military life. “We had conversations with those who selflessly give up everything to defend our country. We met families whose worlds are changed because of service. We saw the ripple effect.”

As Soldiers walked past the booth after emotionally heavy sessions, their expressions would transform as they saw the dogs. “We had many frequent flyers,” Becky said. “I think being that source of joy, light and relaxation during the day kept those coming back time and time again.”

Gratitude in Action
The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry team didn’t just show up—they showed up. With empathy, kindness, and a deep respect for the sacrifices made by service members and their families, they helped transform a weekend of preparation into one also filled with peace, healing, and heartfelt connection.
As Jenni put it, “I hope we conveyed what we felt—that we recognize and honor their service, and we will remember them.”

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