Dog's loyalty to his Seal master upon his death ... thanks Dr. Hovermale!

Hawkeye lays by the casket during the funeral of his owner, Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson, on August 19. By Scott Stump
TODAY.com contributor
updated 8/25/2011 9:54:58 AM ET 2011-08-25T13:54:58
Print Font: +-Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson lay in a coffin, draped in an American flag, in front of a tearful audience mourning his death in Afghanistan. Soon an old friend appeared, and like a fellow soldier on a battlefield, his loyal dog refused to leave him behind.

Tumilson’s Labrador retriever, Hawkeye, was photographed lying by Tumilson’s casket in a heart-wrenching image taken at the funeral service in Tumilson’s hometown of Rockford, Iowa, earlier this week. Hawkeye walked up to the casket at the beginning of the service and then dropped down with a heaving sigh as about 1,500 mourners witnessed a dog accompanying his master until the end, reported CBS.

AP
Petty Officer 1st Class Jon T. Tumilson was killed along with other SEALs on Aug. 6 in Afghanistan. Story: Maltese dog missing for year after car crash is headed home

The photo was snapped by Tumilson’s cousin, Lisa Pembleton, and posted on her Facebook page in memory of the San Diego resident. Tumilson, 35, was one of 30 American troops, including 22 Navy SEALs, who were killed when a Taliban insurgent shot down a Chinook helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade on Aug. 6.

“I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members that couldn't make it or couldn't see what I could from the aisle,” Pembleton wrote on her Facebook page. “To say that he was an amazing man doesn't do him justice. The loss of Jon to his family, military family and friends is immeasurable.’’

Video: Dog jumps up with joy as owner returns from Afghanistan

Hawkeye was such a huge part of Tumilson’s life that Tumilson’s family followed the dog down the aisle as they entered the service in front of a capacity crowd in the gymnasium at the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School. Hawkeye then followed Tumilson’s good friend, Scott Nichols, as Nichols approached the stage to give a speech. As Nichols prepared to memorialize his friend, Hawkeye dutifully laid down near the casket.

Advertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoices
Advertise | AdChoices
.The youngest of three children, Tumilson had wanted to be a Navy SEAL since he was a teenager. Friends and his two older sisters remembered a fearless soldier, and a Power Point presentation was shown that illustrated Tumilson’s active life outside of the military, which included scuba diving, martial arts, and triathlons.

Story: 'Courtroom dog' helps young rape victim testify

"If J.T. had known he was going to be shot down when going to the aid of others, he would have went anyway," friend Boe Nankivel said at the service.

“Your dreams were big and seemed impossible to nearly everyone on the outside," his sister, Kristie Pohlman, said at the service. "I always knew you'd somehow do what you wanted."

As for Hawkeye, the loyal Labrador will now be owned by Nichols, Tumilson’s friend.

A prayer request ... Thanks Sarah Rapp!

From a friend:


I have a prayer request. There's a lady I've known forever. She's very
sick. On top of that, she's being abused by those to whom she has given
everything. Lies about her abound, and seem to come from all sides.
Just breaks my heart. Seems there's nothing I can do alone. But maybe,
if we join in and lift her up together we can heal her. She's well
over 200 years old, but way too young to die. Her name is America ...
and I love her.

News you can use ... Thanks Dr. Hovermale!

Subject: News You Can Use


BREAKING NEWS: President Obama has just confirmed that the DC earthquake
occurred on a rare and obscure fault-line, apparently known as "Bush's
Fault". Obama also announced that the Secret Service and Maxine Waters
continues an investigation of the quake's suspicious ties to the Tea
Party. Conservatives however have proven that it was caused by the
founding fathers rolling over in their graves.

Thanks Marge Rusnak ... A reminder of God

It doesn’t make any difference whether you go regularly to church or used to go or never went at all, you have to think about God and your future sometimes. You never know when you have to reach out for a friend or family member for help or comfort. Don’t forget about God. He never forgets about you!
Time For God





Read only if you have

time for God

Let me tell you, make sure you read

all the way to the bottom.

I almost deleted this email but I was blessed when I got to the end
God,

when I received this

e-mail, I thought...
I don't have time for this...

And, this is really

inappropriate during work.

Then, I realized that this kind

of thinking is.... Exactly, what

has caused a lot of the problems

in our world today.

We try to keep God in

church on Sunday morning....

Maybe,

Sunday night...


likely event

o f a
We do like to have Him

around during sickness....
And, of course,

at funerals.

However, we don't have

time, or room, for Him

during work or play...

Because.. That's the part of

our lives we think... We can,

and should, handle

on our own.
May God forgive me

for ever thinking...

[See the

That.... There is a time

or place where..

HE is not to be

FIRST

in my life.

We should always

have time to remember

all HE has

done for us.
If, You aren't

ashamed to

do this...
Please follow the

directions.
Jesus said, 'If you are

ashamed of me, I will be

ashamed of you

before my Father.'

Not

ashamed?

Pass this on ONLY

IF YOU

MEAN IT!!
Yes, .....



I DO

Love God.
HE is my source of

existence

and Savior.

He keeps me functioning

each and every day.

Without Him, I will be

nothing.

But, with Christ,

HE strengthens me.

(Phil 4:13)
This is the

simplest test.


If You Love God...

And, are not ashamed of

all the marvelous things

HE has done for you...
Send this to ten people

and the person who

sent it to you!

Message removed- A town called Pilsen, Czek

Carol and Clay Vice sent one of the most patriotic messages I have seen on the internet.  It was about a town named Plzen (SP) and pronounced Pilzen in Czechoslovakia, whose citizens annually line their streets to celebrate their liberation by American troops in 1945.

Our fallen and maimed and freedom fighters are remembered in such European towns.

As I was reading it, Clay, It disappeared.  I believe the internet police are in action, but i am just an old Tea Party or Gray-Haired Brigade member.

"Gray-Haired Brigade" ... Thanks Dr. Hovermale!

Sign me up, Dr. Hovermale!

SamKat



Subject: Gray Brigade

Gray Brigade



They like to refer to us as senior citizens, old fogies, geezers, and in some cases dinosaurs. Some of us are "baby boomers" getting ready to retire. Others have been retired for some time.





We walk a little slower these days and our eyes and hearing are not what they once were.





We have worked hard, raised our children, worshiped our God and grown old together. Yes, we are the ones some refer to as being over the hill and that is probably true. But before writing us off completely, there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration. In school we studied English, history, math, and science which enabled us to lead America into the technological age.





Most of us remember what outhouses were, many of us with firsthand experience. We remember the days of telephone party lines, 25 cent gasoline, and milk and ice being delivered to our homes. For those of you who don't know what an icebox is, today they are electric and referred to as refrigerators. A few even remember when cars were started with a crank. Yes, we lived those days.We are probably considered old fashioned and out-dated by many.



But there are a few things you need to remember before completely writing us off. We won World War II and fought in Korea and Vietnam. We can quote the pledge of allegiance, and know where to place our hand while doing so. We wore the uniform of our country with pride and lost many friends on the battlefield. We didn't fight for the Socialist States of America , we fought for the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." We wore different uniforms but carried the same flag. We know the words to the 'Star Spangled Banner', 'America' , and 'America the Beautiful' by heart, and you may even see some tears running down our cheeks as we sing.



We have lived what many of you have only read about in history books and we feel no obligation to apologize to anyone for America.





Yes, we are old and slow these days but rest assured, we have at least one good fight left in us. We have loved this country, fought for it, and died for it, and now we are going to save it. It is our country and nobody is going to take it away from us. We took oaths to defend America against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that is an oath we plan to keep. There are those who want to destroy this land we love but, like our founders, there is no way we are going to remain silent.





It was the young people of this nation who elected Obama and the Democrat Congress. You fell for the "hope and change" which in reality was nothing but "hype and lies." You have tasted Socialism and seen evil face to face, and have found you don't like it after all.





You make a lot of noise but most are all too interested in their careers or "climbing the social ladder" to be involved in such mundane things as patriotism and voting.





Many of those who fell for the "great lie" in 2008 are now having buyer's remorse. With all the education we gave you, you didn't have sense enough to see through the lies and instead drank the kool-aid.



Now you're paying the price and complaining about it.





No jobs, lost mortgages, higher taxes, and less freedom. This is what you voted for and this is what you got. We entrusted you with the 'Torch of Liberty' and you traded it for a paycheck and a fancy house.





Well, don't worry youngsters, the Gray-Haired Brigade is here, and on ELECTION DAY we are going to take back our nation.





We may drive a little slower than you would like but we get where we're going, and in November we're going to the polls by the millions.



This land does not belong to the liar in the White House or to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. It belongs to "We the People", and "We the People" plan to reclaim our land and our freedom. We hope this time you will do a better job of preserving it and passing it along to our grandchildren.





So the next time you have the chance to say the Pledge of Allegiance, stand up, put your hand over your heart, honor our



country, and thank God for the old geezers of the "Gray-Haired Brigade."