Easley Veteran & Service Dog Recognized by VFW for #StillServing

Easley veteran Jeff Thivierge and his service dog Enola are being honored for dedication to country and community in the VFW #StillServing campaign. The national Veterans of Foreign Wars #StillServing (vfw.org/stillserving) campaign highlights veterans who continue to serve in their community after the military.

Easley veteran Jeff Thivierge and his service dog Enola are #StillServing as a registered nurse teaching nursing students at ECPI University. Thivierge was injured in Iraq and medically retired in 2011. Suffering from PTSD, he completed a program and trained his pet to be service dog. That dog, who has since passed away, learned his PTSD triggers and helped him become a functioning member of society. After her death, he immediately got Enola to continue his healing.

Thivierge credits his service dogs for giving his life a sense of normalcy. Before having a service dog, he could not go to the grocery store. With Enola by his side, he knows she will provide a buffer for his personal space.

VFW is proud to recognize Thivierge and Enola for their work as part of the national VFW #StillServing campaign.

The VFW launched the #StillServing campaign in February 2020 to bring attention to and honor the continued commitment and sacrifice of America’s veterans. For some of those men and women, dogs have played – or continue to play – an important role. The VFW wants to share their stories.

The VFW urges all veterans who have experiences with service dogs, working dogs, therapy dogs and emotional support dogs to submit a brief story through the #StillServing website at todaysvfw.org.

Dogs often have a special bond with humans and are even called ‘man’s best friend’ because they mean so much to us. Veterans value the experiences they have with dogs whether that’s as a service member or in the workplace or their personal lives after transitioning out of the military.

This new initiative is seeking a wide range of stories including, but not limited to:
● Service dogs or therapy dogs aiding veterans with physical or mental injuries.
● Veterans who benefit from emotional support dogs.
● Veterans involved in training service dogs, working dogs or therapy dogs.
● Dogs who assisted service members during a military operation.
● Veterans employed with a police department K-9 unit.

VFW encourages all veterans who are #StillServing to submit their story at todaysvfw.org.