Gov. Palin Pitches in to Help Military K-9 Outreach

Operation Military Care K-9 is a program that reaches out to military K-9 teams deployed in the Middle East. Both the dogs and their handlers are recipients of care packages thanks to the effort, which was organized by Beth White, a teacher at Henderson High School in South Carolina. Mud Creek Baptist Church is partnering with Beth to help send such useful items as cooling vests and bandannas for the dogs and sun block and lip balm for their handlers, as the teams have to work in the intense heat under the punishing sun of the Middle East.

Now one year old, Operation Military Care K-9 has sent more than 300 care packages to the military service dogs and their handlers. The Times-News says that a Memorial Day shipment to K-9 teams is scheduled to leave May 11 for the Middle East, and it will include some very special American flags. Each flag will include a message from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose son Track is on active duty in the M.E.:

"God Bless," Palin wrote boldly on each flag. She was thankful to be included in this opportunity to express her gratitude and prayer for the military men and women, White says.

- JP