It All Begins with a Puppy…or NINE!! (Part 2)
Introducing the Honor Litter!
In last week’s post, I introduced you to Cody, Luke, Stanley, and their namesakes. As I mentioned, in the Honor Litter there are three yellow Labrador retrievers and six black. Well, this week I would like to introduce you to the three yellow puppies and their namesakes! They all have incredible stories – I said last week that just reading about them gives me goosebumps…I must amend that statement – it gives me goosebumps on top of my duck eggs! What amazing stories – I hope you find them as moving as I do. So, without further ado:
Bre: This girl’s personality is much like the Soldier she is named for – strong, determined, and a real go-getter who doesn’t let anything get in her way! I found this out when trying to take pictures of all of the puppies together – Bre was almost always one of the first to bolt! She is unstoppable, and maybe even a little pushy, but in a good way. Of all the puppies in the litter, Bre opened her eyes first, which doesn’t surprise me because she is so curious.
Named for: Breinne (Bre), a SGT with the Army National Guard and a registered nurse, who was serving her second tour of duty in Afghanistan when she was awarded the Purple Heart (the military medal awarded to personnel who are wounded or killed in action) after she was seriously injured in an IED attack that took her left eye and shattered her facial bones. To her mother she was quoted as saying, “I love to do my job and I didn’t finish it. I am going to go back and finish it.” Bre is undergoing treatment for her injuries and she is well-known because of her love for dogs and real life understanding of the work service dogs do for the wounded. She has her own service dog named ‘Seamus’ who is an awesome help and support to her!
In 2011, Bre and her fiancee, Joe were married at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. “The plan all along was to get married when we came home,” Bre said, “but when I woke up here, I thought, now’s the time. We’ve gone through thick and thin together, we might as well make it official.”
*Happy Ending Alert* On Saturday, August 17, 2013, after three years and multiple surgeries, Bre and Joe walked out of Walter Reed and headed home! They had a police and military escort all the way from the hospital, and when they reached the Massachusetts border, Bre found herself in a caravan that numbered more than a hundred vehicles. A recent article in the Boston Herald said, “The escort grew even bigger as [they] neared their pretty Cape house in Marshfield: police cars, sheriff’s cars, military vehicles and Humvees, and waving flags and a sea of motorcycles from the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial Riders.” “If you’ve spent any time at Walter Reed,” Bre said, “you know you’ve got no right to sit there, hang your head … I didn’t expect to come home with a brain injury. I’ve adjusted to it. I’ve accepted it.” Her husband at her side, Breinne went on, “ I am just still so unbelievably lucky.”
Breinne (Bre), a SGT with the Army National Guard
Photograph by Chitose Suzuki
Beautiful Bre … eyeballing the camera strap!
Leigh Ann: Leigh Ann gets really excited about her training (a good trait!). She is lightheartedly referred to as the Southern Belle by WCC staff and volunteers. One reason for this moniker is because when being held and spoken to, she will often get excited and throw her head and one paw back … like a sweet little southern girl laughing “well I do declare!” Leigh Ann is a very pretty puppy and grows more beautiful each day…she has an elegant air about her, but she is also a little goofy too.
Named for: Army Sgt Leigh Ann Hester. During an ambush of her convoy in Iraq, Sgt. Hester and her squad repelled at least 30 insurgents. She maneuvered her team through the kill zone into a flanking position, then assaulted a trench line with grenades and M-203 rounds. Then she and her Squad Leader cleared two trenches. SGT Hester told the American Forces Press Service that she didn’t have time to be scared when the fight began. “Your training kicks in and the soldier kicks in,” Hester says. “It’s your life or their’s. … You’ve got a job to do—protecting yourself and your fellow comrades.” Sgt Hester’s gallantry saved the lives of numerous military members and solidified her place in history as an American hero. Hester became the first woman to earn the Silver Star Medal for exceptional valor since World War II. This is the nation’s third highest award for valor, and Sgt Hester is one of only 14 women in US military history to receive the Silver Star, and the first as a result of direct combat.
Photograph by Danielle Levitt
Photograph by David Gilkey/ NPR
Fun in the sun with Leigh Ann
Nick: Nick’s the only yellow lab boy and has very unique markings – he is a little more brown than Leigh Ann and Bre, and a handsome little guy, indeed. He is very people-oriented. But he eats way too fast, so he is separated from the gang and has to eat out of a muffin pan to slow him down. This has earned him the nickname … the Stud Muffin!
Named for: US Navy Explosive Ordnance Technician Chief Nick Null, who was one of the 30 heroes who lost their lives when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down by Taliban soldiers with a rocket-propelled grenade while it was transporting his team on a mission. Nick was killed along with 29 other U.S. military personnel and one working dog, a Belgian Malinois named Bart. We recently remembered the second anniversary of this horrible loss on August 6.
“Amazing how just following The Honor Litter – And seeing Lil Nick grow can bring a little joy to this Mom’s heart! I know he is going to have an amazing Spirit and he will touch so many lives as well as all of The Warrior Pups! It’s helping so many – in so many ways in ways I dreamed of and prayed for!” said Nick’s mother, Tracy, on The Nicholas H. Null, Memorial Foundation Facebook page.
- Photo courtesy of The Nicholas H. Null, Memorial Foundation
Nick with his son and dog, Parker. Photo courtesy of The Nicholas H. Null, Memorial Foundation
Nick always has the best smile!
Bre, Leigh Ann and Nick – Sitting Pretty!
I hope that you are enjoying learning a little bit about each puppy! I find it really cool that, even as young as they are, they have very distinctive personality traits, and that they are developing as fast as they are. However, much more important than that, I also sincerely hope that these few paragraphs will also serve as a poignant reminder of those who sacrificed so much – even their lives. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: we must never forget what these men and women have done for our country. That’s the least we can do!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions! Stay tuned to meet the rest of the Honor Litter!
Until next time, have joy in your heart, a smile on your face, and a dog by your side!
Bonnie
Outstanding! The photographs are beautiful along with your descriptions of the puppies and namesakes. Had to get a tissue to finish reading! Thank you Bonnie – I look forward to Part 3.
I absolutely LOVE these. I cannot wait to read about the next puppies! Amazing photography Bonnie!
Bonnie I just wanted to say thank you for the extra joy you are bringing to the Honor Litter! I hope you will continue to ‘support the mission’ of WCC 🙂 well into the future!
Bonnie… what an amazing job you are doing! Your photo’s are magical! You capture the pure essence of these pups. And to read about the brave men and women who have served our country is so very poignant. Thank you!!!
Thank you for honoring the soldiers these pups were named for with your beautiful photographs and touching words. Gives us all such a deeper and more meaningful connection to our veterans and the future mission of these WCC pups.
Bonnie, I along with all the other EPW’s and OPP’s are loving your work, both photographic and journalistic. I never tire of hearing the stores of the Wounded Warriors who our Honor Litter are named after. I am so proud of the humans and canines that give so much to our nation. God bless all of them!
Bonnie, the blog (both part 1 and 2) are just so beautifully written. Thank you so much for honoring these brave men and women by telling their stories and those of the WCC pups!!
Thank you again for sharing your photos and stories about this amazing organization and their special mission. These puppies are on a special journey to help our wounded warriors and you are helping in documenting this journey.
So many have fallen hopelessly in love with each puppy from all of these litters. But this litter is even more endearing because of the stories representing each one’s name. We know each puppy will do well and bring such comfort & joy. But, also, each one will keep their namesake’s sacrifice alive. Thank you for sharing each story and picture.
These are very special tributes to the heroes who were protecting us and of their namesakes from the Honor Litter who will go on to help other veterans in need. Thanks so much for this series, Bonnie. Can’t wait for the next installment!
I was prepared this time, with tissues! I was among the many people who stayed up all night waiting for these lil guys to be born; to watch them grow and learn is such a gift, but not as big as the gift they will one day be to a warrior in need. so frabjous to see the work of Warrior Canine Connection so meticulously and lovingly documented in your posts; i’m really looking forward to your next post.
beautiful Bonnie
Bonnie, thank you so much for the wonderful introductions to the incredible WCC honor litter. You have done a remarkable job of capturing the spirit and love that radiates from these little warriors in both words and photos. I can’t wait to see the wonderful pictures you will capture as the go forward to conquer their mission.
Bonnie, such a joy to follow your blog as my heart follows WCC! Can’t wait until your next post!
Bonnie I love the beautiful photos of the puppies and the heartfelt stories of their honored namesakes. You have very special gifts, both as a photographer and writer who can capture the personalities of the Honor Litter, both in photos and in words. We are very fortunate that you were chosen and also that you were available at the time WCC needed you.