There wasn’t a dry eye at the cemetery when Rex made his move.
My uncle’s retired K9 partner had been stoic all morning at the funeral – until they brought him near the casket. Then something in the big German Shepherd seemed to break. Without warning, he jumped onto the coffin and laid down with his head on the folded flag, letting out a sound none of us will ever forget.
This was no ordinary dog. Rex had served alongside my uncle Mateo through combat zones and rescue missions – they’d saved each other’s lives more than once. Their bond was legendary in our family.
When Rex started pawing at the casket lid, trying desperately to get inside, the funeral staff moved to intervene. But I blocked them – some goodbyes need to happen on their own terms. That moment, captured in dozens of cell phone videos, has since touched millions online.
