George H.W. Bush’s former service dog starts new position at military hospital
Former President George H.W. Bush's service dog started his new position with the U.S. Navy on Wednesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Sully, a yellow Labrador, was appointed to the rank of hospital corpsman second class during a ceremony at the hospital in Bethesda, Md.
The pooch even participated in an oath of enlistment.
"Do you affirm or pant as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy that you will support, comfort and cure warriors and their families, active duty and retired?” a spokesperson asked during the ceremony.
“That you embrace our staff and bear unconditional love and solace, especially on busy days? That you take this obligation freely, without any promise of treats or tummy rubs and that you will faithfully discharge the duties to provide joy, love and nurturing for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and sailors and their families?" they added.
Sully joined with other facility dogs at Walter Reed Bethesda, who work with veterans to reduce stress and increase well-being among patients.
The service dog made headlines and captured hearts last year after the dog accompanied Bush's casket as it was flown to Washington, D.C., for memorial services.
Sully, a highly-trained service dog who worked with Bush starting in the summer of 2018, is named after famed pilot and Air Force veteran Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger.
The two met for the first time earlier this month.
The dog’s trainer, Valerie Cramer, told “Today” that it was essential for Bush that Sully return to working with veterans.
"It was very important to President Bush that Sully carry on serving veterans, so he chose that Sully wouldn't work for one individual person, but that he would serve many veterans, and the hospital setting is the perfect environment for that,'' Cramer said.
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/431900-george-hw-bushs-former-service-dog-sully-starts-new-position-at