Marky Wolfe receives Hometown Hero banner

TICONDEROGA | Marky Wolfe did a lot of living in the 13 years he had on earth. He served in the United States Airforce for nine years. During his service, he swept over 45,000 vehicles and facilities for explosives, successfully denying and deterring the introduction of explosive devices and materials to the installations he protected. Marky was deployed overseas six times in wartime support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom's Sentinel. If you're wondering how this math adds up, the answer is simple- Marky Wolfe was a German Shephard. Marky Wolfe was an American hero - and now Marky Wolfe is Ticonderoga's newest Hometown Hero. "I am so proud. I want Marky to get the recognition he deserves," said Heather (LaFrance) Wolfe, who with her husband, Anthony, adopted Marky when he retired from service in 2018. "I think people look at them as just dogs and not veterans and they don't understand what they do. I wanted to make sure even though he is passed away that he is honored just like the rest of the veterans." Marky's resume of bravery and noble acts doesn't end there. He began his military career at the tender age of 13 months. He entered training at the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Program at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) in San Antonio, Texas, and trained as a Military Working Dog (MWD) as a Patrol Explosive Detection Dog, Upon completion, he was provided designation as MWD Marky M338 and was stationed at Shaw AFB in Sumter, S.C. On MWD Marky's third deployment, while conducting combat operations near Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, Marky was injured in a deadly explosion resulting in a traumatic brain injury. His handler and he were awarded a Purple Heart medal. After his recovery, he amassed an additional 146 'outside the wire' missions (meaning being outside the confines of a relatively secured military installation) detecting multiple explosive and weapon caches, saving countless lives. In addition, MWD Marky was selected to perform explosive detection operations in support of 12 United States Secret Service missions in successful protection of the President and Vice President of the United States as well as world leaders during United Nations General Assemblies. In the final chapter of his life, Marky was wheelchair-bound after he lost use of both back legs. The wheelchair came from Ron Aiello from the U.S War Dog Association, a program that provides wheelchair and free medication to retired veteran dogs just like Marky. "Marky was amazing," Wolfe said. "We couldn't get the chair together fast enough - he realized it was going to make his back legs work. He was trying to get out of our sliding glass door as fast as he could. Once we got him in the chair, he was unstoppable again." The gift extended his time and offered him a continued quality of life that he embraced for nine months before his humans had to make the decision all pet owners dread after he suffered a stroke on Jan. 3, 2020, just two days after his 13th birthday. "Having Marky for the couple years that we did was like having him for a lifetime," Wolfe remembered of her beloved "Mama's Good Boy" and "Daddy's Pup-a-Dude," and taking peace that Marky lived out his final years being spoiled with treats, relaxing on his couch, chasing his soccer balls and the squirrels in his Ticonderoga yard. Marky, expectedly, was draped in an American flag for his funeral. In total, Ticonderoga's Hometown Heroes Program has 291 banners currently proudly displayed. According to Angela Brown, fundraising coordinator for the program, donations for upkeep and maintenance of the banners are always needed. Hometown Heroes tries to replace or repair damaged or old banners with their own finances instead of putting a financial burden on families. At the moment, there are four that are in need of repair. Donation checks may be made payable to Ticonderoga Hometown Hero Banners in care of Century 21 at 992 NY Route 9N, Ticonderoga, NY 12883. Marky Wolfe's Hometown Hero's banner was raised on the morning of Saturday, May 6. He is positioned next to his human mother, Heather, who is also a U.S. Air Force veteran (though his position is a few inches higher, due to him technically outranking her). New York State Assemblyman Matt Simpson and Vermont State Representative (and Ticonderoga native) Jarrod Sammis were in attendance for the honor. You can see both Heather and Marky Wolfe on Route 9N/Street Road near Huestis Farm Stand.

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Marky Wolfe receives Hometown Hero banner

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