It’s National Dog Day, and while most people are enjoying funny dog memes on social media, others will be saying goodbye to a very special Marine combat dog who died from aggressive bone cancer.
A Marine service dog who served three tours in Afghanistan will be remembered in a special military funeral on Saturday.
Cena, a black lab, was a bomb-sniffer for the Marines until retiring in 2014 when he became a service dog for his handler Lance Cpl. Jeff DeYoung.
The war dog saved “literally hundreds of Marines in combat.” Cena was euthanized in July after a battle with cancer. Hundreds of people came last month to say farewell to him.
DeYoung will lead a convoy of Jeeps and American flags from Muskegon to the Michigan War Dog Memorial at noon on Saturday. The ceremony will include a taps performance, escort by eight German shepherds, flag presentation for DeYoung, and a color guard.
“You’ve got to understand the bond between a soldier and his dog, it’s way over the top,” said Phil Weitlauf, the War Dog Memorial founder and an Army veteran.
“This dog was more than a pet to us. He was another brother,” said a GoFundMe page for Cena’s funeral, which had raised $60,774, much more than its $40,000 goal by Saturday.
“To my combat buds let’s do something for one of our own.”
Here’s the video of their last ride together:
Excuse me, I have something in my eye! Both of them!!