The AHEPAN - Fall 2016 - 22


VETERANS

AHEPA Teams Up with K-9 Veterans Organization to Help
Vets Who Suffer from PTSD
AHEPA applauds the collaboration
between Garden State Chapter 517,
Holmdel, N.J. and K9s For Warriors,
a non-profit organization dedicated to
providing service canines to veterans
suffering from Post-traumatic Stress
Disability, traumatic brain injury and/
or military sexual trauma as a result of
military service post 9/11, announced
Supreme President Andrew C.
Zachariades.
Every 65 minutes a veteran commits suicide but service canines-a
large majority of
which are rescue/
shelter dogs--are
helping to save
their lives. And
AHEPA is working to ensure veterans and service
canines come together as a team to
help K9s For Warriors to reach its goal
to empower veterans to return to civilian life with dignity and independence.
The service dogs help vets by sensing
when they are experiencing anxiety.
"We encourage the community, and
specifically our chapters, to explore
how they can help our veterans by
supporting this worthy collaborative
effort between Chapter 517 and K9s
For Warriors," Zachariades said. "Our
veterans have sacrificed so much for
our country and this is a fantastic way
the American Hellenic community can
show its gratitude and appreciation."
AHEPA Chapter 517, through the
Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II, Memorial
Fund, is the proud sponsor of a service
dog appropriately named "AHEPA" that
will be given to a veteran fighting

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THE AHEPAN · Fall 2016

PTSD. The well-received initiative resulted in a presentation made by Randy Dexter, a
combat medic who served two
tours in Iraq, and his service
dog, "Captain," at the Las Vegas
Supreme Convention.

How It Works

Project Chairman and Veteran George Karatzia (far
right) with Veteran Randy Dexter, his service dog,
"Captain," his wife, and two daughters; Shari Duval
(in pink), founder of K9s For Warriors; and Dennis and
Marion Zilinski, Zilinski Memorial Fund (far left).

It is $15,000 to sponsor a service dog. The funds raised by
an AHEPA chapter or district
will be transferred to Lt. Dennis W.
Zilinski II Memorial Fund, a 501(C)3
non-profit organization which facilitates the service dogs on behalf of the
sponsoring organization. Each month
K9s For Warriors graduates life-saving service dogs for the program that
assists Veterans suffering from PTSD.
Service K9s are considered medical
equipment and are recognized by the
US Department of Justice Civil Rights

Division, and the American Disability
Act of 1990.
Some facts about the program:
* 95% of dogs used in K9s For Warriors
program are rescue/shelter dogs.
* 82% of funds donated to K9s
For Warriors directly impact programs to help disabled veterans.
* K9s For Warriors has graduated
241 Warrior-K9 teams, with a
90% re-certification rate.

Indiana Brother, Korean War Vet Goes
On Honor Flight
Brother George Nastav, along with 110 fellow
Korean and World War II Veterans, was able to
go on his Honor Flight, June 8, 2016. Brother
Nastav is an AHEPA Life Member and Past
Chapter 157 President, Calumet, Ind. Brother
Nastav served in the U.S. Navy as a Machinist
Mate aboard the USS Princeton. Thousands
of people were on-hand at Midway Airport
to welcome the Veterans back from their
Honor Flight to Washington, DC. The Order is
proud to count him as a Brother. The Honor
Flight Chicago program brings Veterans to
Washington for a day of honor and remembrance at no cost to them.

www.ahepa.org
http://www.k9sforwarriors.org/ https://www.youtu.be/Up6Vg70RJnQ http://www.runwithdennis.org/ http://www.runwithdennis.org/ http://www.ahepa.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The AHEPAN - Fall 2016
