Keeping My Sons' Memory Alive

Her twin boys, both Marines, died by suicide. Now Cherya Cavanaugh helps veterans struggling with PTSD get service dogs - and saves lives

- JOHNNY DODD

Back in September 2017, 24-year-old Marine sergeant David Cavanaugh was set to deploy to Iraq for his third tour abroad in five years. Sadly, he never made it. Two Marines showed up at the family’s home in Ponte Vedra, Fla., early one morning with the tragic news of David’s death by suicide. Days later his mom, Cherya, found herself in a house full of grieving loved ones. Desperate to clear her head, she went for a drive, asking herself, “How can I honor David the way that he’d want?” Cherya got her answer as she passed the nonprofit K9s for Warriors in their hometown. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to sit in my car and cry,” she says, “or go inside.”