On Memorial Day each year, at the break of dawn, you will find me walking the memorial gardens in Columbus, offering a silent prayer for our fallen soldiers.

Besides supporting Veterans Restoration Quarters for homeless vets, I also support the project that gives service dogs to vets with post-traumatic stress disorder and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

My support for fellow vets has been well documented over the years, as has my love and support for our canine warriors.

I’ve recently received a group of photos with captions, and as I went through them, I began to sob uncontrollably. I spoke with staff of the Tryon Daily Bulletin, who promised to allow me to share some of them with you.

In closing, I wish to say God bless America and all those who have served.

Leonard Rizzo, U.S. Navy