When This Wounded Army Vet Got Engaged, He Had A Very Special Best Man In Mind
by N/A, 9 years ago |
2 min read
Justin Lansford, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, recently married Carol Balmes in a very unusual ceremony.
Justin Lansford, a paratrooper and veteran of Afghanistan, and Carol Balmes, his high school sweetheart.
The two got married in Largo, Florida...
...Where Gabe, Justin's Golden Retriever, served as best man.
While Justin was serving his country in Afghanistan, the truck Justin was riding in struck an improvised explosive device (IED) and was overturned.
Justin suffered severe damage to the femur in his left leg, and was forced to undergo surgery for amputation of his leg.Â
Justin recovered at Walter Reed hospital, where he was enrolled in the Warrior Canine Connection.
The Warrior Canine Connection specializes in training service dogs to help soldiers recover from both the physical and emotional wounds of war.
Through the Warrior Canine Connection, Justin was introduced to his best friend–and subsequent best man–Gabe.
Gabe can help Justin with almost anything, from fetching Justin's bottle of prosthetic lubricant in the morning to opening the door when the two return home.
This bond goes much deeper than a typical service dog-human relationship. Gabe is a part of the family.
It seems fitting that only Gabe could fill the role of best man.
So much precious dog love.
✕
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