Sarasota South Elks Lodge #2495 hosted 72 veterans for lunch March 11. Stephanie Kern, Associate Director of Philanthropy from Southeastern Guide Dogs was present and gave a brief introduction to what they do in preparation to assigning a guide dog to those in need. Ed Burton, a 28-year Navy veteran, told the attendees how helpful his guide dog, Sammy, is to him. Burton was an engineer and did three tours in Vietnam as well as in Nicaragua, Panama, Granada and Desert Storm. Injuries received during his service caused the inflammation of his optic nerve and led to his vision loss. Sammy is his second dog from Southeastern Guide Dogs. Since he has had him, he Burton has been able to live an active life and adapting to life on a sailboat spending time with his wife boating in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. He and his wife, Betty, are thankful to the Elks for their continued support of Southeastern Guide Dogs.
Stephanie Kern from Southeastern Guide Dogs attends a veterans luncheon March 11 at Sarasota South Lodge to speak about the organization’s guide dogs. Also pictured are Richard Bouchard, Exalted Ruler, and Ed Burton, a Navy veteran with his dog, Sammy.