Platform
,
Name: Brooke Ault
Title: Miss Greater Little Rock
PAWS
for Patriots: Service Dogs for Disabled Veterans
As
Americans enjoy the freedoms that continue to bless our lives each day, far too
few of us stop to remember the high price that has been paid on our behalf on
battlefields across the globe. It has
been in the midst of these wars that ordinary Americans displayed bravery
beyond human comprehension and carried the banner of our freedom proudly in
their hearts as they placed their lives in the balance. Jose Narosky once said, “In war, there are no un-wounded soldiers.” This is clearly seen in the gruesome
statistic that there are now over 1.2 million disabled American veterans, many
of whom have been seriously injured in combat, their lives forever
altered. It is now our responsibility to
stand with these brave men and women, who have sacrificed so much for us, in
their hour of need.
Though
I grew up surrounded by family who served in the military, I personally
experienced the devastation of war while my brother was serving in
Afghanistan. One of my brother’s fellow
platoon commanders stepped on an IED and lost not only his legs, but much of
his very existence. As our family sought
ways to reach out to him, we learned about the incredible healing power that
service dogs have upon the lives of these American heroes. It was my desire to help that led me to train
dogs, explore all of the potential ways that service dogs could impact lives,
and create awareness of both the needs of our disabled veterans and the healing
power of service dogs in their lives.
Studies
show that service dogs are improving lives by enhancing the mobility of those
with visual disabilities, and also helping veterans suffering from
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries regain the ability
to cope with day-to-day tasks and maintain employment by supporting them
through psychiatric episodes and terrors.
However, service dogs provide so much more than help; they provide hope.
They are truly giving our veterans and their families the ability to live their
lives with dignity and independence.
To
do my part, I am personally utilizing a four step plan involving…
P- Partnering with organizations such as Vets
Helping Heroes, Veteran’s K-9 Corps Paws for
Purple Hearts, Pets for Vets, and Canine
Companions for Independence, etc. to create a greater sense of public awareness
of these ministries and their great need for support. Whether encouraging people to become
advocates, donors, or even dog trainers, my hope is to raise awareness that leads
to involvement.
A-
Assisting
programs utilizing service dogs in maximizing their potential success through
strengthening ties directly with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the
Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and national programs such as First Lady
Michelle Obama’s personal initiative Joining Forces. This leads to greater advocacy on local,
state, and national levels.
W-
Widening the
financial backing of these programs by helping to transfer limited private
funding to the wider public sector. By networking with local media outlets,
R.O.T.C. units, and building neighborhood participation, fundraising events are
being planned to provide a larger private funding base, while at the same time
encouraging communication with congressional representatives to petition public
funding.
S-
Striving to be a
catalyst for social change in the perception of these national heroes. The Miss America program has a rich history
of igniting social change while attracting national attention. We need to
overcome the lack of awareness and even apathy toward these men and women and
create a society ready to act on their behalves.
Through
the dedicated work of existing service dog organizations, in conjunction with
the Miss America program, my hope is that the nation will one day see how
important these trained companions are to our disabled veterans in need. Service dogs are widely recognized for their
loyal service to disabled persons, but little has been done to honor soldiers
who have been disabled in the line of duty. Providing these brave men and women
with the assistance and companionship of a trained service dog is one way we
can all give back to these heroes. President John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never
forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by
them.” We must never forget their
sacrifice. It is time to reach out to our
disabled veterans and make a difference in their lives, just as they have made
a difference in ours.
