Sully, late President George H.W. Bush’s service dog, began the next chapter in his career on Wednesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
The yellow Labrador joins the Facility Dog Program at the Maryland hospital, a program that aims to decrease stress and increase happiness care for patients and staff friends through known as “Animal Assisted Interventions,” according to officials at Walter Reed.
It should come as no surprise why arrangements were made for Sully to live out his days helping American troops recovering from their wounds of war, as Bush was known to regularly visit the hospital.
“President (George H.W.) Bush used to frequent the hospital to visit our wounded warriors—often monthly— and almost never with an announcement to the press” said Navy Capt. Mark Kobelja, director of Walter Reed National Medical Center.
“He came privately, quietly, and spent personal and direct time with our wounded warriors.”
Sully shot to headlines and into the hearts of Americans everywhere for being by Bush’s side in the final days and moments of the 41st President of the United States, who passed away last year. A picture went viral showing him lying beside his casket draped with an American flag in Houston, Texas.
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His namesake is that of former airline captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who gained national attention in 2009 after he landed a US Airways flight in New York City’s Hudson River, saving all 155 souls on board.
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The two met on the TODAY Show in February, in an episode to remember.
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Sully H.W. Bush has an Instagram account as he begins his new job at Walter Reed.