Serviceanimals Miss Lilly, a GermanShepherd dog (left), and Sheba, a white Arctic Wolf, rescued and trained through theorganization For Veterans Sake, sit in the shade Friday on the square in Tyler. presentatives from American Legion for the Veterans, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion presented a $500 check to the organization For Veterans Sake in recognition of POW-MIA Day. (Cara Campbell/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

In recognition of National Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day, the Favre Baldwin American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 12 donated to a nonprofit that assists veterans dealing with PTSD.

The Tyler-based auxiliary unit on Friday gave a $501 donation to the For Veterans Sake Foundation at the Korean War Memorial on the T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza in Tyler.

The auxiliary of the American Legion Post consists of women who are members of the post or female relatives of post members.

For Veterans Sake Foundation President Monty Hutson said the purpose of the organization is to provide service dogs and counseling to veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder mainly in the Tyler-Longview area. Hutson served in the U.S. Army for six years in the 101st Airborne Division and 8th Infantry in Germany.

“It’s really good,” Hutson said of the donation. “They support us and we support them. Veterans support veterans. The $500 will go a long way to get dogs to more veterans.”

The amount of service dogs distributed ranges from 15 to 60 per year depending on the number of veterans and dog trainers. Almost all dogs given through the organization are rescue animals, he said.

Lisa Hudanich, Auxiliary Unit 12 president, said these services are a great help to veterans dealing with PTSD.

“We do anything we can for our veterans,” she said. “There’s always something happening at the Legion so we can continue to help.”

Hudanich added that the post’s Legion riders group held a fundraiser in June that made $4,700 for the nonprofit.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is celebrated annually on the third Friday of September to remember those who are unaccounted in war or military service and their families.

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