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In 2004, Smuckers, a Labrador-Golden retriever mix, was diggin’ in his backyard for worms and other goodies when he found a true treasure, a Purple Heart.
Smuckers pawrents, Denver natives Steve Jankousky and Tom Unterwagner, worked hard to find the family of Richmond L. Litman, a Korean War hero. But, it wasn’t until they heard about the Vermont organization Purple Hearts Reunited, that they were able to connect with Litman’s family.
A day after the organization published a story about Smuckers’ find, Leatra Plick, Litman’s stepdaughter, contacted Purple Hearts Reunited founder Zachariah Fike, a combat-wound veteran.
Litman was wounded in 1950 while in South Korea. No one knows how the medal found its way to Smuckers yard, which is four blocks from where Litman lived, but Plick is happy to have it back.
She told the Denver Post,
“I will honor it as much as he honored it when he was alive. I truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.”
With her tail wagging and wearing the Purple Heart around her neck, Smuckers presented the medal to Litman’s family in a spawcial ceremony sponsored by The Military Order of the Purple Heart.
High paws to Smuckers for doing her part to support our troops!
Help K9s For Warriors give a new leash on life to rescue dogs and military heroes and fetch an extra month of BarkBox. Click here to learn more and donate today!
h/t FoxNews Insider.
All images via The Denver Post.
