Raising our flag in honor of those who have served!

SAN MARTIN, Calif. - July 3, 2018 - PRLog -- In honor of the 4^th of July, Operation Freedom Paws held a flag dedication ceremony this past Saturday to honor our clients and others who have, and continue to, serve our country protecting our nation's independence and individual freedoms. This invite-only event welcomed graduated and current clients, staff/volunteers, and local celebrities such as KBay's Jona Denz-Hamilton and Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman.

The Flagpole was gifted through the generosity of various individual donors and the plaque was donated in-kind by Cypress Granite & Memorials, Inc. It reads, "Dedicated to our O.F.P. Veterans; Thank you for your service; Our oath lives on".

Founder and Executive Director, Mary Cortani, was emotional when it finally was raised saying, "To our clients, especially our veterans, the flag flying at our center represents many things; who we are and what we stand for as a group, a family and a nation". To ask one of our clients what they were feeling, Denny McLaughlin said, "When I was drafted in April 1968 I stood in front of the flag of our country and raised my right hand and took an oath to serve our country.  After Vietnam and many years of turmoil I found OFP. It has become a fun, safe place for my dog Abbey and I to be.  To be able to look up and see our country's flag flying over us [at the center] brings a lot of my life full circle". Click here to watch the flag being raised.

The flag is a symbol of liberty and freedom. All who have served gave an oath for this nation symbolized by this flag and have had some closest to them die for this flag. Our flag is as John Thune said, more than just cloth and ink, it symbolizes liberty and freedom.

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About Operation Freedom Paws

Operation Freedom Paws, a 501(c)3 Non-Profit, empowers veterans, adults and children with disabilities to restore their freedom to live life by teaching them to train their own dogs, and certifying them as service dog teams. The dogs, usually from rescue organizations or shelters, are carefully evaluated. Each is then matched to a specific client's physical and psychological needs. There is no charge--all we ask is a commitment to complete the 48-week training program. OFP's funding is provided by fundraising events, individual donations, grants from private foundations and their commercial kennel services (ie dog daycare and boarding).

To learn more about our program and services, visit our website www.operationfreedompaws.org or call 1-408-683-9010. For a tour of the center please schedule an appointment with our front desk.