Racking up the miles!

Here is the info on the fundraising page for VetDogs Attention: I have a Personal Fundraising Page for VetDogs Now! Please follow this link and make a donation to help another veteran like me get a service dog.

The past couple weeks have been great times for Iris and I.  We have had some camping and some education along with a lot of spreading the word about service dogs and what a life changer they can be.  Not only that but we have been able to pass on how important getting out there to raise funds for raising these wonderful animals is also.

When I last posted the Blog we had visited the Mass state park Horse Neck Beach.  What a great spot to camp at.  To bad it is so popular but when there are spots open over there you can expect to find Jen and I.  Since then Iris and I have completed CT's American Legion College where the current leaders help train and teach newer legion members to take on leadership roles.  It was an eye opener for me and I was also very pleased to find out that they are very open to finding ways to help with service dogs for veterans also.  I am definitely looking forward to the State and National conventions coming up soon.  In the meantime I look forward to starting up a Facebook Page for my Legion Post (Coming very soon) and helping bring the states website back from what has been described as a terrible state of disrepair. Anyone out there interested in helping with some web design project stuff let me know.

With barely a moment to blink Iris and I left the Legion College and drove down to one of our nations oldest and proudest colleges ever produced.  West Point, The U.S. Army Military Academy where we were able to work with the Warrior Transition Command and many active and Veterans with varied disabilities training to compete in a number of adaptive sports.  Many of these men and women had never given a thought about having a service dog so being able to meet and greet with them letting them see Iris at work was a very positive experience. The time spent there meeting with the command also along with the permanent party at West Point was a great time.  We camped up at the MWR Campsite above the post proper enjoying the quiet of a cell free area.   

I did have some free time to get a few neat pictures one foggy morning that I have shared here in the blog. Enjoy!  I enjoyed the history associated with the post and look forward to the next time I can go visit and see more. 




Upon leaving West Point we traveled through the Catskills up to Syracuse NY to spend a few days with the NY State VFW Convention.  This is the second year that Iris and I have been asked to speak to them and this year it was great.  The State of NY VFW has adopted Iris as one of their own along with me, adding me to their roles of a member of their VFW. 

Both the VFW and the Women's Aux have adopted VetDogs as one of their projects to support again this year and I can not thank them enough for this support.  Hopefully statewide that support will continue to grow and more and more dogs will be able to be brought into the program to help future veterans in need.  Continued support from our nations VSO's is a great way to show the civilians of this nation that we support our own but really need everyones support.

Tomorrow morning I will leave to head down to Smithtown where the history channel will be filming a show about saving our heroes.  My understanding is they want to see the service dogs working so Iris gets to be a star again.  She is such a ham oh wait should I say dog?



 I want to thank everyone for all the support they give please take a moment go check out the http://kent.VetDogs.org  page let all your friends and family know about it.  We are already over 10k would love to hit 20k by the end of the summer but I need your help.

Also if you want to help with gas feel free to check out some of my pictures at http://photo.kphyfe.com that is how I pay for most of my travels with the Legion, VFW or DAV events I do personally.  I would also like to point out I am getting more active with both the local Legion and VFW to increase membership because we need those members and numbers to be counted to have a solid presence in DC.  The VSO's do so much in helping to keep our veteran and disabled benefits strong. Even if your not willing to take a leadership role please join and be counted stand tall with your brothers and sisters showing your unity.







 Thank you

Busy time of year

As always here is the info on the fundraising page for VetDogs Attention: I have a Personal Fundraising Page for VetDogs Now! Please follow this link and make a donation to help another veteran like me get a service dog.

As the summer months begin so to the summer convention and conferences begin.  This is the time that we get an opportunity to get in front of larger groups to show first hand how service dogs change lives.  The coming weeks will have me traveling the road more then ever which is exactly why I wanted to get the RV decked out and ready for everything.  It is hard for some people to understand how nice it is to be able to use my own bed every evening while traveling and to be able to relax and see the country while enroute to meet these amazing people.  All I can say is that by not having to fly or deal with the daily grind of hotel security I am so much more relaxed and at peace.  Not only that I get to meet so many more people and introduce them to Iris and explain how she has changed my life.

A birdy told me that over the next few weeks I would be traveling to 4 or 5 events.  These events will have me cruising throughout New England and Western New York.  I personally am very much looking forward to Getting more involved with the leadership here in CT's American Legion this weekend.  Right after that is done I have an opportunity of a lifetime.  I have been invited to go down and be a part of the Warrior Trials taking place at West Point, NY.  This event invites disabled soldiers from all over the country to compete in all sorts of athletic events. 

I am looking forward to being there to not only spread the word to potential applicants for service dogs but also just be a part of such a great time where our nation is coming together applauding these hero's for all they do not focusing on what they can no longer do.  Life is about moving forward and this event is surely a stage to prove that nothing can hold someone down if they don't focus on the negatives that have been handed to them.

From there I will be trekking northwest to Syracuse for the NY State VFW convention, where I will be able to part-take again in a group that focuses on healing and moving forward. I had the pleasure of working with this group last year and their commitment to helping their fellow brothers is second to none and I am proud to be invited to be a part of their group.

After 8 days on the road I will head back home for some much needed time with the family. There will be a few day trips through the month of June as VetDogs places their first Puppies into the Prisons in Central CT, Yippie!!! This has been a longtime coming but is finally coming to fruition and we are all so excited.

As of now, the 4th of July plans are in limbo but I am sure as always things will come up and fill in as they are supposed to.  It never fails that I am placed in the right place at the right time to do what is needed.  They joy of being a messenger is I do not have to make the plans I just have to be willing to go when called.



So on a happy note our Son Dan, Graduated from College a few weeks ago and is moving on with his life.  He plans on getting married to an amazing young lady in 2015. More to come on that as the time draws near.  

Until then Jen and I have found another great beach camping site called Horseneck Beach State campground, we hope to visit there often and we are planning a few trips to New Hampshire also this summer for some mountain camping. 


As always here is the info on the fundraising page for VetDogs Attention: I have a Personal Fundraising Page for VetDogs Now! Please follow this link and make a donation to help another veteran like me get a service dog.