Marine Dog With Terminal Cancer Is Given A Hero’s Farewell – Ashes Buried At War Dog Memorial

I CANNOT STOP CRYING.

Seriously, guys. Bawling my eyes out over here. You’ve been warned.

From Marine Times:

MUSKEGON, Mich. — Hundreds of people in Michigan came together to say a tear-filled final goodbye to a cancer-stricken dog who served three tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines.

 

Cena the 10-year-old black lab received a hero’s farewell Wednesday before being euthanized at the USS LST 393, a museum ship in Muskegon, and carried off in a flag-draped coffin.

 

Cena, who was recently diagnosed with terminal bone cancer, was a bomb-sniffer for the Marines until his retirement in 2014. The celebration for Cena was organized by his owner, Jeff Young, who was paired with the dog in 2009 and 2010 while on a combat tour in Afghanistan and who adopted him in 2014.

 

Cena then became DeYoung’s service dog to help him with his post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

“My whole adult life I’ve had Cena,” DeYoung said. “When I was 19 overseas learning how to be responsible, I had Cena. And now I’m 27 and I’m having to say goodbye to one of the biggest pieces of my life.”

 

DeYoung said he has carried Cena across rivers and thrown his body over him while under heavy fire from the Taliban. He said Cena kept DeYoung’s body warm during cold desert nights, and comforted him when he lost seven friends in three weeks.

 

As part of the celebration, DeYoung took his dog on one last ride in a topless Jeep that was decorated and named “Cancer Response Team.”

 

The ceremony was attended by the U.S. 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. Attendees gave one final three-volley salute with “Taps” playing in the background for Cena, who was wearing a decorated blue Marine vest.

 

“Lord, it is with heavy hearts that we are sending another Marine to you today,” said chaplain Wesley Spyke as he addressed the crowd in prayer.

OOOOOOH MY HEART!

Then, as if I weren’t already crying hard enough, I saw this:

This weekend, his ashes were buried at the Michigan War Dog Memorial:

The ashes of a cancer-stricken service dog who served three tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines have reached their final resting place.

The Detroit News and MLive.com report a couple hundred people gathered Saturday for the burial of Cena at the Michigan War Dog Memorial in Oakland County’s Lyon Township. The 10-year-old black lab was interred with other military service dogs.

BRB. Crying forever.