For Katelyn Richards, giving back to the community is nothing new. Her mother, Jill, explained, “when she was about 12 or 13 she started wanting to help people anytime someone was in need. She always wanted to help them out in any way that she could.”
Back in 2013, Katelyn organized an event to help raise money for a little girl with cancer. The event raised around $3,000 to help pay for medical bills. Since then she’s organized a toy drive, a supply drive for a school in need from Kentucky, and is now raising funds to honor dogs who have served our military.
Katelyn explained, “I’m just doing it so I can give back. I don’t want anything in return for what I do.”
Richards’ entire family is involved with the American Legion in Tyrone and has learned about the roles dogs have played overseas.
She detailed, “There have been friends that i have gone into the military. I have asked them questions about what they do in the military and they tell me about them training of dogs.”
According to the U.S. Army website, 281 military dogs were killed serving in Vietnam.
Jill explained where Katelyn got the idea saying, “she is very in to helping veterans and the dog process was something she wanted to do. She said that they get overlooked in their role in the service and in veteran’s affairs.”
Richards is halfway towards her $7,000 goal to purchase the statue. She hopes that it can be placed in Tyrone to continue the town’s recognition of those who serve in the military.
Donations can be sent to:
K9 Memorial Project
P.O. Box 473
Tyrone, PA 16686
