National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week

As the number of LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs in the Southwest Region continues to grow, the teams in the region are able to meet and work together regularly. Last week was one such event as we were invited to participate in the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week. Kare 9 Rufus (St. Mark – Edmond, Oklahoma) joined up with Texas Kare 9s Elijah (Our Redeemer – Wichita Falls, Texas), Phoebe and Pax (St. Paul – Fort Worth, Texas), Abner (Bethany – Austin, Texas), and Gabriel (Messiah – Houston, Texas). Additionally, teams who are in process for an LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Messiah – Plano, Texas and Gloria Dei – Houston, Texas, sent team members to observe and participate. Their three-day trip began in Temple where they visited the Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center and the Community Living Center.

In addition to spending time with the veterans, handmade quilts were presented to them and many visits ended in prayer. Thursday, while still in the Temple area, the teams visited Fort Hood Army Base. They were again warmly welcomed and enjoyed spending time with soldiers in many phases of active military life. Their hosts were a team from the Warrior Transition Unit and they have asked the K-9 teams to return on a quarterly basis now. They look forward to being able to see them more and on a regular basis. Before departing for home, the groups returned to Waco to the Doris Miller Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. They were pleased to visit the various mental health groups including the locked ward as well as blind rehab and present those veterans with quilts.

One of the highlights of this visit was each team receiving a certificate from the base commander at Fort Hood. The certificate was in appreciation for the visit and to commend the dogs on their behavior. But that was not all. They also presented a certificate to be sent to LCC acknowledging the high level of training that allows our dogs to be present on the base.

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