When United States Army veteran Justin Lansford and Carol Balmes, both from Snellville, were married earlier this month, by their side was Justin’s best friend – a golden retriever trained by the Warrior Canine Connection.
According to Carol, the dog named Gabe has been by Justin’s side since he was severely wounded while serving in Afghanistan in 2012. Once Justin and Gabe were paired together, they quickly became friends, and the canine was even with the couple when Justin proposed to Carol last Veterans Day.
Carol added that that it was a given that Gabe would be involved in the ceremony in some way once the couple began their discussions about what they would do. Gabe follows the couple everywhere it goes, and the discussion took off once the question was asked about what Gabe would wear.
In the end, his garment was a special vest with all the badges that Justin had received, and he was by the couple’s side during the entire day of their wedding.
The couple may have turned a special printing company for their wedding Invitations, which may have included a picture of Gabe. Justin and Carol are happy to talk about Gabe and the Warrior Canine Connection, which promotes the use of service dogs to help wounded warriors get back into their families, their life, and the community.Get a Free Quote for Invitations
