Warrior Canine Connection

#MissionMonday: Today's Warrior Story highlights the bond between #WCCsForester and his Veteran, Irene. "It's been amazing.. Any time my stress starts to increase and I have a few stress cues, [WCC's Forester] already picked up on [them]. He comes over and interrupts that." "It brings a sense of pride to be associated with this organization." WATCH on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gQZagv48 #FurTheLoveOfVeterans #WarriorStories

Happy 249th birthday to the United States Navy! #FurTheLoveOfVeterans

#NEW: WCC 2025 Calendars + WCC Drool Rags are now available in WCC's online store! BUY YOURS NOW! WCC 2025 Calendar: https://lnkd.in/enxSMxKA WCC Drool Rag: https://lnkd.in/egGcugWS #FurTheLoveOfVeterans

Please join us in welcoming WCC’s Susan II Named in honor of United States Navy Nurse Corps Commander Susan Swinehart, Ret. CDR Swinehart was inspired by her father, an Air Force pilot, to join the military. She wanted to follow in his footsteps and do something unique with her nursing career. As a Naval officer, she saw many opportunities to practice her nursing profession while expanding her leadership capabilities. CDR Swinehart was enticed by the thought of educating Navy Corpsmen, who played a critical role in hospitals, clinics and the battlefield. She taught at Corps School in San Diego and loved inspiring service members in the art of caring for patients. After transferring to Milwaukee, she successfully recruited nurses to join the Navy, traveling numerous states and thousands of miles in the process. During her tour in Newport, RI, CDR Swinehart was placed in charge of Quality Assurance. This was a daunting task as it was her primary responsibility to prepare the entire command for a major accreditation inspection from an external source. She received numerous accolades and quite a bit of cheering when they passed with “flying colors”. CDR Swinehart was able to return to her passion as an educator for her last tour at the Naval Medical Education and Training Command in Bethesda, MD. On a personal level, Susan was on a mission to save greyhounds by bringing awareness to their plight. She personally adopted ten senior greyhounds. She is an active member of Greyhound Pets of America, and she can be found at “meet and greets” to get greyhounds adopted. Recently she made 30 blankets to raise money for the association. CDR Swinehart is an exceptional example of someone who devotes herself to others. It is with tremendous pride that we name WCC’s Susan II in honor of United States Navy Nurse Corps Commander Susan Swinehart, Ret. #FurTheLoveOfVeterans #WCCsSusanII

It’s time to prioritize #mentalhealth in the #workplace. Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay but the Ravens have been celebrating all week via a series of events and activities including volunteering, chair massages💆♂️, vaccine clinics💉, yoga🧘♂️, time with Warrior Canine Connection therapy doggos🐶, breathwork😤, a visit from our EAP pros, and a conversation with Dr. Tricia Bent-Goodley, our team clinician👩⚕️, and Dr. David Driver about ways to engage in mental health #wellness despite being in a busy/demanding workplace. Finally, Peloton hosted a conversation exploring the connection between movement, mindfulness, and mental well-being. As you can tell, we take this stuff seriously – you should too! P.S. It’s also Pro Athlete's Mental Health Awareness Week. Watch/Listen: https://lnkd.in/ecxVMEvT #mentalhealthinprosport24 #beproactive24

October 10th is #WorldMentalHeathDay, a day to reflect on the importance of mental health, specifically in the workplace. With WCC's Puppy Raiser Program, you can support Veterans while raising an adorable service dog in training. Have you considered talking to your employer about the benefits of bringing a dog to work? You can learn more about WCC's Puppy Raiser program on WCC's website: https://lnkd.in/e4hDB6vA #FurTheLoveOfVeterans

#WarriorWednesday: Today's Warrior Story highlights the bond between #WCCsByron and his Veteran, George. "[WCC's Byron has] forced me out of the house more, forcing me to go for walks with him, forcing me to do more things. Like yesterday, I had to take a package to the UPS store. So normally, before Byron, I would just go quickly run to the UPS store and then quickly get back in the car and go home. But this time, I was like... why not stop at Barnes and Noble and just go and check something out, see what there is there. So we did that afterwards, and I was like wow, that was a big accomplishment." WATCH on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eJ6Xi8Wv #FurTheLoveOfVeterans #WarriorStories

Please join us in welcoming WCC’s Edmee Named in honor of World War I United States Army Signal Corps Telephone Operator Marie Edmee LeRoux Marie Edmee LeRoux was born in 1895 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She went by Edmee. Her family was French-Canadian and were bilingual in French and English. When she was about 10 years old, her family moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where she was a student at the Rhode Island School of Design before enrolling in a singing school. Edmee was passionate about her singing studies and won a scholarship to study in France. However, WW1 changed the path of many lives, including hers. Edmee instead answered the call of the nation to join the U.S. Army Signal Corps. She still ended up in France, though it was while serving as a bilingual telephone operator in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) under General Pershing's command. She was one of 223 women from across the U.S. and Canada who swore an oath, put on the Army uniform, sailed on the USS Lapland in the U-Boat infested waters of the Atlantic to go to war with the Doughboys. They handled the battlefield tactic communications between the AEF and the French and British armies including the Peace Talks in Paris and Coblenz, Germany. They were nicknamed The Hello Girls. Edmee was stationed in Paris at the U.S. Army offices and in Tours, France with the Supply depot offices. These women worked 24/7 wherever communication stations were set up from Paris to the ever-changing frontlines of battle. They were saluted by General Pershing and cheered by the Doughboys. Sadly, Edmee died of cancer by Jan 1945. She was a Veteran of WW1, a survivor of WWII, a singer, a mother and a patriot of her time. All the women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps were patriots and what they accomplished as American's First Women Soldiers of their time was above and beyond the ordinary. In 1977 President Jimmy Carter gave them their Veteran status. It is with tremendous pride that we name WCC’s Edmee in honor of World War I United States Army Signal Corps Telephone Operator Marie Edmee LeRoux #FurTheLoveOfVeterans #WCCsEdmee

#CatchesForCanines: For the second year, Tito's Handmade Vodka is teaming up with the Baltimore Ravens in support of Warrior Canine Connection. For each #Ravens completion this season, Tito’s will donate $100 to Warrior Canine Connection, up to $35,000! In their week 5 win over the Bengals, the Ravens recorded 26 receptions! The total on the season is now 99 receptions! #FurTheLoveOfVeterans #lovetitos #RavensFlock

Please join us in welcoming WCC’s Frenchie Named in honor of United States Air Force Airman First Class James LaCoursiere Jr. Born to a military family in Honolulu, Hawaii, A1C LaCoursiere Jr. attended Montville High School where he played junior varsity football, varsity football and varsity track.  A1C LaCoursiere Jr., affectionately nicknamed “Frenchie” because of his last name, served in the United States Air Force from 1981 to 1983, during the Grenada/Lebanon conflict. He served his time working in Patient Affairs and was trained to help support the Med Evac, at Tactical Air Command, Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia.    On August 19th, 2024, A1C LaCoursiere Jr. was elected National Commander of The American Legion. He has been a longtime field representative for the American Legion Department of Connecticut’s Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund, which financially assists Veterans and their families in need.    A1C LaCoursiere Jr. has held many leadership positions at The American Legion post,  department (state) and national levels. He is a member of American Legion Post 91 in Moosup, Conn. He has also served as a national vice commander, Connecticut state commander, and chairman of the national Legislative Commission.    A1C LaCoursiere Jr. is married to his wife, Lisa, and has two children (Patrick and Meghan), and three stepchildren (Jason, Kaylene and the late Johnathan). It is with tremendous pride that we name WCC’s Frenchie in honor of United States Air Force Airman First Class James LaCoursiere Jr. #FurTheLoveOfVeterans #WCCsFrenchie