Loyal dog refuses to leave soldier's casket

The dog of a slain US Navy SEAL remained loyal even in death — refusing to walk away from his owner's casket during the funeral service.

Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, 35, from San Diego, was one of 30 troops killed in Afghanistan when a Chinook helicopter was shot down by Taliban insurgents on August 6.

His funeral was held in Rockford, Iowa, last Friday.

During the service, attended by 1500 people, his Labrador Hawkeye walked up to the casket, heaved a sigh and lay down in front of it for the duration of the memorial.

Tumlinson's cousin, Lisa Pembleton, photographed the dog resting by the casket.

"Hawkeye was/is his loyal 'son'… I hadn't planned on taking any pictures other than with family," Pembleton wrote in a statement to the military blog Home Post.

"However, from my seat at the funeral, I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members who couldn't make it or couldn't see what I could from the aisle."

(source)