Number of Participants: 27
Hours Donated: 10
Value of Time Served: $2,282
Event Type: Veterans & Military Families
Sport: Team
Date: January 25, 2022
Location:
Smithtown
NY, USA
About:
Marine Corps veteran Ryan Canedo received a service dog from Paws of War in a ceremony at MetLife Stadium this past December. On Jan. 25, Canedo, who served the nation in Iraq, was present with his son and daughter, who both attend Tackan Elementary School, to return the gratitude.
Canedo’s children, along with all of the other students at Tackan Elementary, recently painted in camouflage a nearly seven-foot long Great Dane statue that will be displayed outside the Paws of War organization’s headquarters in Nesconset.
Paws of War picked up the statue, which the students named “Trooper,” as students watched the handoff.
The organization trains and places shelter dogs, who go on to serve and provide independence to U.S. military veterans who suffer from the emotional effects of war.
Tackan art teacher Claudia Chandler spearheaded the painting of the statue in camouflage.
“It was a total school effort,” she said.
Photo caption: Images from ceremony to hand Trooper to Paws of War.
Photos courtesy of Smithtown CSD