I have had almost weekly contact with a number of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past few years and one of the most important things they relate to me is they love getting cards, notes and letters from back home, especially from children with their drawings. The fact that we are thinking about them and appreciate their efforts to keep us safe here at home is a huge morale builder for them.
In the case of the Military Working Dog (MWD) teams, it is huge for both handler and dog. You might say, how can a card or letter from us have any effect on a dog? Well, have any of you ever heard the saying, "unconditional love at both ends of the leash?" The dog does understand and I’ve even seen photos of handlers reading the letters to their dogs. The dogs feel the emotions of the handler and the same is true of the handler. Haven’t you ever had a bad day and your dog knows it. If the MWD senses danger, the handler can almost read the dog's mind because they are so closely bonded. The same goes for the dog. If the handler's morale is down, it will affect the dog, which can be disastrous in certain situations, such as searching for improvised explosive devises or other combat missions. Both have to be totally alert and focused on their mission at all times.
I now have a request from all that read this letter. It’s a very simple one that will help keep morale high but first here is a recent quote from a Special Operations Dog handler assigned somewhere in Afghanistan that was sent to me about our Macopin Middle School because of its patriotism.
“Frank, you have an amazing school, I wish we had more like it….Have a fantastic and successful year and remember your patriotism is an enormous morale booster for our military!”
If you can find the time, please pen a note or send a card to me so I can forward them to various soldiers serving in Afghanistan. The holidays are coming up fast and we need to show our soldiers we are 100 percent behind them!
“Where Angels Fear to Fly, K9 Leads the Way!”
Send cards and letters to P.O. Box 947, Hewitt, NJ 07421.
Thank you.
Frank A. Yevchak Jr.,
Founder Support Our 4 Legged Soldiers
Hewitt