A few times a year I trek out to see a special group of homeless veterans. But calling them homeless is not the right word. They simply live outdoors. A lifestyle they have chosen. They could live in the city, in housing, but they don’t feel comfortable doing that. So they do it this way instead.

These are fiercely proud men. Friendly, kind and respectful. With faces that show lives well lived. Crooked smiles. Some missing teeth. And as one of them added, some really bad tattoos.

All of them kind of chuckle in unison at the memory of bad tattoos.

But their dogs show none of that wear and tear. Three pit bulls. Happy. Wiggly. Waggly. Totally blissful dogs. Each one spayed and neutered. And licensed.

These dogs adore their people. And vice versa.

On the hottest days they wear clean tshirts to protect from sunburn. On the coldest days they have warm coats. The dogs. Not the men.

Watching them says it all. While we talk, unused hands automatically reach down to scratch a dog’s head. Then the neck. Then the dog moves himself into a position so those hands now scratch his back. Then his side. Leaning in further with every scratch.

The whole time the man almost unknowingly bending further and further to pet his dog. And the dog loving it. I ask if he knows he’s petting his dog. He was startled by the question. Because he didn’t even realize what his hands were doing.

He quickly looked down and saw his dog. He looked at him. The dog looked back. A frozen moment that had likely happened thousands of times before.

Then you look down and see that dog has quietly moved himself into a bit of a half-somersault. Just trying to make sure every bit of his happy body continues to get equal attention. Face down. Rump up.

And then, with an almost upside down mouth hanging open and tongue dangling sideways, it happens. The dog goes kathump. Now down on his side. Motionless. Then a quick roll to his back. Arms and legs up in the air. And there he waits. For the belly scratches that this man has given so many times before.

The man laughs. The dog smiles. Then the other men join in and give belly rubs to their dogs too. Perfect.

I comment that these dogs are loving their pets. And the men, almost in unison, all say the same thing.

That they loved it more.

These were dogs that may not have had a chance without these men. And these were men that may not have had a chance without these dogs. In many ways, they were therapy for each other.

Yes. These men and dogs live outdoors. Some may call them homeless. But without question they still share a home filled with love. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

Three more Vietnam era veterans. Tired of life as it was so they have carved out the life they want. This life is not for everyone. But who are we to tell these men that their way is the wrong way? Because from what I’ve seen, they’re doing an awfully good job of doing it right.

This Memorial Day weekend gives us pause to once again thank our Veterans. This is not about war. This is about the job they did when they were told to do it. Even if it was a job they did not want to do. And we owe them our debt of gratitude for that.

Sadly there are countless Veterans, right her in our own community, that go without. They endure some of the toughest times. Frequently too proud to ask for the help they can easily get. I know many of them. And The Pongo Fund does all we can to help them and their pets.

But of course we can’t reach them all.

That’s why today, in just a few hours when our pet food bank opens our doors, one of the first groups to receive their food will be the Veterans Administration.

And from this day forward the Portland’s VA Community Resource and Referral Center will be well stocked with high-quality dog and cat food from The Pongo Fund. Other centers will follow.

Memorial Day is about more than just barbeques. It’s about remembering. About giving thanks to those that have done the thankless. Both two-legged and four.

The Pongo Fund helps hundreds of Veterans. And their dogs and cats too. If you’d care to make a Memorial Day contribution, the link is here: https://www.thepongofund.org/contact/donation-page/ .

We honor. We remember.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org