Letter from the Publisher

Patriots of all shapes and sizes

WITH THE MONTH OF JULY UPON US, in addition to the patriotic sentiments we feel, I am especially excited that this is the birth month of my first born 11 years ago. I think of all the blessings my child has brought to me over the years and it is fitting that it comes in this month when we should all recognize the blessings we enjoy thanks to the sacrifices of our military personnel over many generations. To bring up a child in this great land of ours is more than a blessing, it is a privilege that should not be taken for granted. When we celebrate Independence Day this month, patriotism is in the air. It is a time when we not only count our blessings for being citizens of a great and free country, but also to reflect upon those who helped build and maintain its freedoms through their own sacrifices.

Any cause that furthers the well-being of our veterans, especially those whose lives were altered in a great way either physically or emotionally, is one that all Americans should find easy to get behind. This month’s Charity Spotlight feature is among those and it has a rare benefit of helping out in two different ways: Patriot Service Dogs.

Based in Belleview, Patriot Service Dogs trains canines to help military veterans who are struggling with myriad physical or emotional conditions. Many veterans have issues with mobility or are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other similar ailments, and trained service dogs can help alleviate some of the suffering. Trained to help veterans accomplish some everyday physical tasks, they also provide a calming influence on those who need it most.

In supporting an organization like Patriot Service Dogs, one is not only helping veterans in need they are also helping to bring hope to incarcerated women. The organization taps into the skills of women incarcerated at the Lowell Correctional Institution as part of the training. At the prison, women are schooled in becoming good trainers themselves.

How much more patriotic can one be than supporting an organization that helps out our veterans and at the same time uplifts incarcerated females? Thinking of a veteran who answered the call of his country and suffered some sort of debilitating injury is truly heartbreaking. One of our Founding Fathers, John Adams, famously stated after the ratifying of the Constitution that this form of government was “… made only for a moral and religious people.” As such, it is our duty to be moral, and that includes taking care of those who sacrificed so much for this land.

As it is, less than 1 percent of veterans who apply for assistance from these service animals are able to receive it. With Independence Day upon us, it’s good to know that there are organizations like Patriot Service Dogs out there to tap into those patriotic feelings that reside in us. Because of the training school at Lowell and the fact that all dogs are donated, the costs are minimal and veterans spend no money out of pocket for these dogs or their training. This also puts the onus on the rest of us to make sure it can happen. It is up to us to donate the animals, volunteer our time and pour the money in where it belongs. Few of us have had the opportunity to serve our country the way veterans have, but being good citizens is no small measure of patriotism. Supporting organizations that support our veterans while also uplifting the lives of those who are incarcerated is a good way of being patriotic, of making sure everybody wins in this great land of ours.

Patriot Service Dogs