America’s VetDogs, an organization whose mission is to help those who have served our country honorably live with dignity and independence, recently recognized the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in a ceremony naming a 9-week-old Labrador Retriever and future service dog “Honor.” 

America’s VetDogs trains and places service dogs for those with physical disabilities; guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision; service dogs to help mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder; and facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals. At the 2024 Citizen Honors Awards, they were chosen by the Medal of Honor Recipients for the Society’s Community Service Award, recognizing their outstanding service and commitment to improving the lives of veterans and first responders with disabilities. 

“Recognizing the Congressional Medal of Honor Society through this ceremony highlights the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes,” said John Miller, president and CEO of America’s VetDogs. “We are privileged to acknowledge their contributions and are excited to introduce ‘Honor,’ a future service dog who will carry on their legacy as a future service dog for a veteran or first responder with disabilities.” Chad Graham, Executive Director of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and John Shertzer, Executive Director of the Medal of Honor Foundation, attended the ceremony and had the privilege of meeting Honor as he begins his own journey to serve.  

Honor will be raised in America’s VetDogs’ Prison Puppy Program in Maryland, where incarcerated individuals will help socialize and teach him foundational skills that will be built upon during formal training with a certified service dog instructor. Once training is complete, Honor will be placed with a veteran or first responder with disabilities, offering enhanced mobility and renewed independence.