Hundreds gathered in Michigan to say their final heartbreaking goodbyes to a cancer-stricken dog who served three tours with the US Marines in Afghanistan.
Cena, a 10-year-old black lab, was given a hero's farewell on Wednesday before being euthanized and brought away in a flag-draped casket at Muskegon's USS LST 393.
Cena, who was recently diagnosed with terminal bone cancer, served as a Marine bomb-sniffer until retiring in 2014. Jeff Young, who was paired with the dog during a military mission in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010, and who adopted him in 2014, planned Cena's celebration. Cena was subsequently trained to be DeYoung's service dog in order to help him cope with his post-traumatic stress disorder.
"I've had Cena my entire adult life," DeYoung added, "who le." "I had Cena when I was 19 and learning how to be responsible overseas." And now, at the age of 27, I must say farewell to one of the most essential aspects of my life."
While under Taliban fire, DeYoung claimed to have dragged Cena over rivers and placed his body over him. Cena, he said, kept DeYoung's body warm on cold desert evenings and consoled him after he lost seven companions in three weeks.
DeYoung celebrated by taking his dog on one last ride in a topless Jeep decorated with the words "Cancer Response Team."
"It started off with my basically wanting to go to a dealership and wanting to borrow a Jeep for a day and really small to a community tribute or a community parade for him and he's truly deserved it all," DeYoung said. "The support, all the love people are giving him, he can see it and he can feel it."
The ceremony was attended by the US Marine Corps League, Michigan State Police, Muskegon County Sheriff's Office, Muskegon City Police, Muskegon Fire Department, and officers from several other departments, including a canine officer named Rex. With "Taps" playing in the background, attendees delivered a last three-volley salute to Cena, who was dressed in a decorated blue Marine vest.
"Lord, it is with heavy hearts that we are sending another Marine to you today," priest Wesley Spyke prayed to the crowd.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for Cena's headstone.
"Any dog that served overseas deserves exactly what I've done for Cena, if not more," he went on to say.
