BEACHWOOD, Ohio — It was a proud display of patriotism on Monday at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood. There, dozens of first responders, military members, and their families, gathered for the third annual Veterans & First Responders Foundation golf outing.
They all attended for the same reason: To support first responders and veterans.
"We had 24, 25 canine officers and their dogs here today," VFR founder and President David Knott said. "The ladder trucks, the different police officers from all over the Greater Cleveland, (and) we had military."
The event raised money for critical care for heroes, like mental health resources.
"We need to thank them and be happy and appreciate what they do," Knott told us. "Every day, they get up, they go to work, they put on a uniform, and a lot of them put their lives on the line every day."
It's something fallen Euclid Police Officer Jacob Derbin did until he was killed in the line of duty back in May.
"Jacob, 23 years old, only on 10 months being an officer. His father, Vince, is a K-9 officer of 22 years in Euclid," Knott said. "Nobody expected the day before things or Mother's Day that something like this would happen, but it did, and Jacob's mother woke up to him gone."
PHOTOS: Veterans & First Responders Foundation holds 3rd annual golf outing at Canterbury
Jacob was an aspiring officer just getting started in his career, and that's why VFR's Howling Heroes is doing something special in his honor.
"So what we're going to do is we're going to have a new dog in Euclid next year. They'll have an officer they'll select, and his name will be Jake after Jacob," Knott explained. "We're going to turn him into a rock star and people in Euclid are going to love him, and that way we're going to also keep Jacob's name going on for a long time so people don't forget him."
Howling Heroes also supports K-9s after they retire so their handlers have one less thing to worry about with finances.
"You've got a dog that works 12, 16 hours a day, gets out there, asks no questions, never marks off sick, shows up to work, protects their community. And unfortunately, when they retire, that tool is retired, right?" Spencer Gale, executive director for Howling Heroes, said. "Currently, we have 21 dogs that have insurance policies to date, totally free of charge to the handler."
It was a gathering of golf, but also a heartwarming show of camaraderie and love for the heroes who protect us each and every day.
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