AMVETS Post One and VFW Post 6708 have supported the training of service dogs for their fellow veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder for the past four years.

During that time, the posts have contributed more than $10,000 for this effort, filling a critical need, which is presently not being fully met by the Veterans Affairs Department.John Salvadia, the president of DOG

T.A.G.S., a nonprofit group from Mechanicsburg, attended the meeting.He was accompanied by Scott, a 14-year Army veteran of two tours in Iraq.Scott, who is suffering from PTSD, was accompanied by his service dog Molly.The visitors described the importance of selecting the right dog, usually a rescue, for the veteran; and the challenges of training the dog and the veteran. The process takes about six months, but can take up to a year before the trainers are satisfied that the veteran and his dog can be fully reintegrated into society.Scott described how Molly has changed his life, and the life of his family."She is my partner in my reintegration into society," he said.AMVETS Commander Dale Wesner and VFW Commander James McKinley each presented $500 to help DOG

T.A.G.S. with their work. Gifts from individual donors present amounted to an additional $400. Combined with an earlier gift be the two posts in April; the donations total $4,300."Our support of their efforts is one of the top priorities of our two organizations," Wesner said. "We realize that we are helping to meet a critical need of our returning combat veterans. All of us are very gratified that we can do this; for it has been ascertained that fully 40 percent of the returning veterans could benefit significantly from this kind of help."Those wishing to support the efforts of DOG

T.A.G.S. may send remittances to: AMVETS Post One, 18 S. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo, PA 18237.