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That’ll Do, Sully, That’ll Do

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All eyes were on the yellow Labrador retriever keeping watch over the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush following his death Nov. 30. The bittersweet image of Sully H.W. Bush lying beside his commander in chief was viewed by millions of people around the world.

Bush had suffered from a form of Parkinson’s disease, and Sully was with him until the end.

A dog lays next to a casket covered in a flag.
Keeping Watch
The now-famous photo of Sully H.W. Bush keeping watch over the casket of former President George H.W. Bush in Houston, Dec. 2, 2018.
Photo By: Evan Sisley
VIRIN: 181202-O-ZZ999-221

Sully was trained through a program funded in part by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program. Therapeutic service dogs trained through programs such as this one provide critical support for wounded, injured and ill veterans and troops seeking to lead more independent lives.

A dog lays on the floor in front of a crowd.
Sully Serves
Sully, a Labrador retriever who served as the service dog for President George H. W. Bush, lies near the former president’s casket in the Capitol Building Rotunda in Washington, Dec. 4, 2018. Military and civilian personnel assigned to Joint Task Force Capital Region provided ceremonial and civil affairs support during Bush's state funeral.
Photo By: Spc. Joseph Friend
VIRIN: 181204-D-IY499-0011
Service members, a woman and a service dog stand beside George H.W. Bush's casket at a funeral service
Bush Funeral
Sully, George H.W. Bush’s service dog, pays his respects at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Dec. 4, 2018. Sully became the former president’s service dog, in June of 2018.
Photo By: Sgt. Sidney Weston
VIRIN: 181204-D-AM616-0026C

Already famous in his own right — his Instagram account, @sullyhwbush, has more than 260,000 followers — Sully will go on to join the therapeutic dog team at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, after the holidays, where he will provide stress relief and comfort to service members going through physical and occupational therapy.

A dog walks with a handler on a flightline.
Sully at Andrews
Sully, President George H.W. Bush's service dog, waits with his handler at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Dec. 3, 2018. He traveled to the base before attending Bush's state funeral in Washington.
Photo By: Army Pfc. Katelyn D Strange
VIRIN: 181203-D-MC386-0332Y

For more information about Sully and the USUHS service dog program, click here.

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