Recon’s Graduation
Jed Morgan gears up Recon for the trip to his forever home.
Quilters Sandra McCullough and Kay Lettington from Quilts of Valour hold up the quilt Commander Thomas Lettington (USN, retired) presented to Jed, while Recon sat at attention.
Father Tom Franxman blesses Recon, preparing him for his important work with Jed.
Kay and Cmdr. Tom Lettington, Sister Margaret of Nazareth House, Patricia Dibsie of Love Heels, Jed Morgan and Sandra McCullough pose with Recon after the ceremony while Father Tom looks on.
Jed and Recon embark on their journey together, a team at last.
Before Recon geared up to head home with his human, Jed Morgan, the muscular service dog with a gentle spirit showed the crowd gathered for his graduation that he was ready to serve. As Patricia put him through the paces, Recon got, gave, sat and behaved.
Recon sat at attention as Patricia recalled a chance meeting at a Costco that brought Recon and Jed together. At their first meeting, she said, it was clear Recon was just the dog to help Jed, a Marine, recover from his injuries and perform important duties like retrieving dropped items. (Recon can even get and give a credit card.) She knows Recon will fit right in with Jed’s expanding family, soon to include a baby girl!
Jed left Nazareth House, which paid for Recon’s expenses, with more than a canine companion. Commander Thomas Lettington (USN, retired) presented him with a “nap-sized” quilt featuring the U.S. Marine Corps Crest that was stitched by his wife Kay, Sandra McCullough, and other volunteers for the Quilts of Valor Foundation. The foundation has made more than 100,000 quilts “stitched with love, prayers and healing thoughts to thank (wounded service members like Jed) for their service and valor,” he said.
Father Tom Franxman of Nazareth House blessed Recon and all his dog friends gathered for the graduation.
Jed and the other humans caring for Love Heels dogs each received a red-white-and-blue copy of “A Service Dog’s Prayer,” which includes these words, “Lord help me be strong when my human is weak, To give them the independence they so dearly seek … Watch over my human each night and day, So together forever we can surely stay.”
All of us at Love Heels are so proud of our newest team, Jed and Recon.
