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Died 7/26/17
Handler – Lance Cpl. Jeffrey DeYoung
Community turns out for U.S. Marine veteran dog’s last ride
More than 100 people, 30 Jeeps and about 35 American flags gathered in honor of a four-legged Marine veteran on Wednesday, July 26. The event at the USS LST 393 Museum was a final send off for Cena, a 10-year-old black lab who served three tours in Afghanistan as a bomb-sniffing dog with the U.S. Marines. Cena was recently diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. Since 2014, Cena has resided in West Michigan with his owner and first handler Lance Cpl. Jeffrey DeYoung, of Muskegon. The gathering on Wednesday was a result of DeYoung sending a call out for Cena to take a last ride in a topless Jeep Wrangler. In addition to a Jeep that was fittingly emblazoned with the words “Cancer Response Team,” about 30 other Jeeps and about 30 motorcycles of the Patriot Guard Riders attended Cena’s celebration of life ceremony, and went on a police-escorted ride with the pair. DeYoung and Cena attended the event in their blue dress uniforms. Cena’s was homemade. Everyone who wished to was allowed to meet and pet Cena as he laid in a blue cloth wagon near a Jeep Liberty. He was later pulled over to the “Cancer Response Team” Wrangler where a family photo was taken, and the family said their goodbyes as silent tears flowed. “Lord, it is with heavy hearts that we are sending another Marine to you today,” said Chaplain Wesley Spyke of Muskegon County Veteran Affairs, as he addressed the crowd in prayer. DeYoung lifted Cena out of his wagon, and carefully placed him in the backseat of the Wrangler, the back window of which was draped with an American flag. DeYoung sat next to his canine brother. After a short ride, the convoy returned to the USS LST 393. DeYoung and Cena boarded the ship, and Taps was played.DeYoung will take Cena to Lakeshore Animal Hospital for euthanization around 6 p.m. Cena and DeYoung were paired together for six months in 2009 and 2010 while on a combat tour in Afghanistan. They were separated without a chance to say goodbye. Four years later, they were reunited when DeYoung adopted Cena in June 2014. During that time DeYoung carried Cena across rivers. Cena kept DeYoung warm during cold desert nights. DeYoung threw his body over Cena’s while under heavy fire from the Taliban. And when DeYoung lost seven friends during the course of three weeks, Cena was there to comfort him. The ceremony was attended by the U.S. Marine Corps League, Michigan State Police, Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office, Muskegon City Police, Muskegon Fire Department and officers from several other departments, including a canine officer named Rex.
