Retired Marine Corps Sgt. Major Jim Kuiken of Vienna and his service dog, Freedom stand next to the Friday Night Live! banner with the K9s For Warriors logo. Kuiken accepted a $1,000 donation on behalf of K9s For Warriors from Doug Downer at the FNL! concert held July 7. Photo by Mercia Hobson/The Connection
On July 7, Doug Downer, Founder and Chair of Herndon's Friday Night Live! concert series walked up on the performance stage located behind the Municipal Center, 777 Lynn St., Herndon. Downer was there to welcome and introduce two very special guests for the evening, retired Marine Corps Sgt. Major Jim Kuiken of Vienna and his service dog, Freedom.
Friday Night Live! is more than the D.C.-area's best free outdoor concert series. FNL! supports many community efforts by providing a venue to get the word out for both accomplishments and needs. It is with that attitude of being part of something bigger that Downer explained to the concertgoers that Kuiken and Freedom are beneficiaries and spokesmen for K9s for Warriors.
According to the nonprofit organization’s website, the goal of K9s For Warriors is "to empower veterans suffering from the invisible wounds of war to return to civilian life with dignity and independence." Downer said the organization achieves its goal by training and placing rescue dogs from shelters with warriors who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disability, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post-9/11. Downer revealed that to date 651 dogs and 323 warriors have been saved since the program began (in 2010).
Reaching out to shake Kuiken’s hand, Downer presented a $1,000 check to K-9s For Warriors, the total of individual donations spearheaded for the organization by Herndon residents George and Laura Price at their recent 4th of July celebration. The contribution will help K9s For Warriors offer trained service dogs to veterans suffering from the invisible wounds of war at no cost to them.
In an earlier interview, Kuiken explained K9s for Warriors helps those who got beat up in wars. "I only got blown up a couple of times," Kuiken said. "Us Marines don't duck very well."
Kuiken said he thought he was managing his PTSD but it eventually caught up with him. Kuiken said after he retired he sat in a chair in his living room for nearly two years, withdrawing from family and friends. It wasn’t until someone recommended a service dog that Kuiken made a change that saved his life.
K9s for Warriors involved him in the final training with his service dog, Freedom, who was rescued from a high-kill shelter, Kuiken said. "It was love at first sight," Kuiken said. "The training got me back out. Freedom saved my life. We saved each other."
For more information about K9s For Warriors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization visit www.K9sForWarriors.org or call 904-686-1956.