The Silient Heroes

As Memorial Day approaches, and our Country stands  with Respect and Honor for all our Military Veterans, fallen and currently serving.  We also need to take a moment and honor the silent heroes, the military families, these wives and husbands and children who all serve….

This past year I have had the pleasure to meet many families; some of which knew Ben and the ones that were a part of Stiggys Dogs.  I am personally in awe of the strength and love they have as they hold their families together and support their Military spouse. Some of these families are both Military.

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Memorial Day Service in the Senate Chambers; Lansing Mi

Last year our family attended their first Gold Star Family Luncheon at the Governors Manor following the Memorial Day Service in the Senate chambers. Full of honor and pride, I attended this emotional event. The impact this had  is still felt in me today. I am sharing with you heart felt words I wrote 1 year ago today…..

My heels clicked loudly on the hard tiled floor. We walked together, as a family, quiet. Just the clicking of my heels echoed down the empty corridor.

The oversize Mahogany door opens. A rush of ‘old’ whiffed up my nostrils as the dead air hung heavy in the room. I sucked my breath in as instantly a lump whaled up inside my throat. “No, not now” I say to myself, as I have successfully pushed back these tears in the past.

My eyes lock- not on the rich atmosphere of these Senate walls, as I should have. But I stare at the face of a Marine on the back of a man’s shirt. A face so young was smiling out of the picture at me. I could not read the words under the picture, his name and the date he died, because the tears forming in my eyes made it difficult to see. As I pulled my eyes from that face to my feet, I saw all of the family wearing the same shirt. Chills ran up my arms, as I walked, head down. I pushed back the memories of Ben’s young face, smiling…..

I sit, unable to open the Memorial booklet, that I can’t even remember putting in my hand. I look down on the Senate floor in awe at the sight. Many men were in full uniform, Military Veterans lined the back wall, and Flags all around. In the center of the room were 12 flags, each representing a fallen Michigan Veteran from the past year. These flag folded properly, over flowing in the basket that was escorted by Military.

My thoughts, heavy, jump to the families around me. There was an older man, a Veteran himself, standing proud in a salute. His hands shaking. His wrinkles were set deep, full of as much history as the walls behind him. I wondered what memories he was struggling with.

Behind him a Woman stood tall, swaying back and forth, mouth set in a frown. Next to her was a younger woman, hair pulled back tight, in full Military uniform. It was hard to read the look in her eyes, was it confusion? fear? anguish? Just then a little curly haired girl, in a bright pink dress, reaches up and grabs her hand tightly. The look of innocence on that child face…..A big huge tear hangs off my eye lashes. It blurs my vision, for that I am grateful.

I remembered when Memorial Day meant a long weekend, a party, the beginning of summer. My thoughts trail off when the sound of Bag Pipes playing in the background brings me right back to reality.

I turn to hug the stranger standing next to me. We looked at each other, tears falling down both our cheeks. An awkward silence hung in the air……We were all now, in a weird way, bonded together…

Introducing Terran Frye; Stiggy’s Dogs Veteran Liaison

“Veterans Helping Veterans.”

This concept was not in my original business plan for Stiggys Dogs.  In fact, it took almost a year for us to fully realize the community we were developing. Because we were growing slow, taking the time to get to know each Veteran (and family) and taking specific time to train each dog with them…… We decided to open our training Barracks for these Veterans to come and stay. Little did anyone know that this would turn into something so much more!

From Day 1, each Veteran felt immediately at ‘home’. After each visit, these guys would open up more and more with us. This was a place for them to go, a place where they felt ‘safe’. Here were Veterans, from different branches of the Military and different parts of the region, coming together. They share stories, memories, and advice.  Terran Frye, stepped up initially as the Go-To guy. He had a lot of answers to help other veterans navigate the Military/Disability system.  Terran even took it upon himself to reach out to these guys, outside of Stiggys to offer support. Terran picked up the phone and helped us navigate through the system at Camp Lejeune, he has called the Department of Justice about the American with Disability Act, and had been such a proud recipient of a Stiggy’s Dogs that Hershey could be our spokes-dog! Together they have been everywhere, including a airplane ride!

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In Honor of Marine Veteran Thomas O’Gorman

It is one of those phone calls that stops you in your tracks.

Becky Pfeifer Van Zante , a friend of mine, called to tell me that George’s dad passed away……. the  family is asking that donations be made out to Stiggy’s Dogs…..So many emotions run through you at that moment, sadness, empathy and gratefulness. Proper words are hard to find. I know so well.

Thomas O’Gorman is a Marine Veteran, served in the Korean War. And he loved Dogs. Knowing the Military as I have gotten to, I understand the Brotherhood of these Marines. Once a Marine Always a Marine.

Thank you, family and friends.  We appreciate your charity donations as we honor Thomas O’Gorman.

Thomas O’Gorman November 7th 1932-May14th 2011

 

Newest Stiggy’s Dog Contender: Fiona

And in prances Fiona…….

It all started on our ride home from Camp Lejeune. Donna and I needed to focus on our next class, the Veterans and the dogs we were looking for, as a diversion from missing Stig and Bella. Our last dogs we just paired. We got talking about TV shows we watch……Burn Notice came up……Fiona……and I mentioned to Donna that “I almost named Stella that. I like that name for a girl dog for us…..”

The next morning Donna and I were off looking at Trooper, (another Stiggys Dog contender whoI will write about later). After leaving there I was headed to my mothers house. I told Donna that I would stop by thee Humane Society by her house.  We had our criteria for what we were looking for, so a quick in and out would be fine to see I needed Donna to go back. I walked past a few ‘maybes’, when I noticed this brindle little bundle curled up in the floor. As soon as the dog saw me peak in, she ran to the glass, rolled over, and showed me her belly to rub. I looked at her cage card: Catahoula Leopard Dog /Mix. No way! That was the breed Stig was and we knew this breed well. High energy, very intelligent, desire to learn and work……Plus my heart was still aching for Stig. I immediately picked up the phone and dialed Donna. “Ummmm…you need to turn around.” I was saying when I looked up to see her name……Fiona…..

Michigan Humane Society in Westland welcomed our organization with open arms. Erin Campbell was excited about out program and we are setting up a meeting to talk further. Gratefully we adopted Fiona the next day!

Fiona is such a beautiful girl. She is around 4 years old, but you would never know it. She is mixed with a Beagle, you can hear the faint Beagle howl/bark at times. She is a quick learner and is picking up on things very fast. She is learning fetch, with her desire to play this is becoming a great tool. Fiona is very focused on you, looking directly at you tying to read your facial expressions. This is essential to a Psychiatric Service Dog. Her need to be loved is also apparent. She loves to be petted, cuddled, hugged, kissed….anything that involves interaction with her. Another wonderful quality. Fiona also likes to play by herself with toys. This will make you laugh. She prances, yes, prances-like a toy soldier in Toy Story. That’s the Beagle in her too.  We are working on lose leash walking, which once we do a few attention exercises, she walks amazingly well. She even matches paces with you already! :)

It has almost been a week with Her and we are already impressed.  This first week is really a transition week for the dogs, a getting to know you, us and our routine. Next week starts the training, expectations, and limitations. Honey Moon over!