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Milwaukee Brewers Help Donate Service Dog To Veteran with PTSD

A veteran struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) recently received some very needed support thanks to the Milwaukee Brewers and a local business.

According to WTMJ-TV Milwaukee, this lucky serviceman is Andrew Sievila. He is a veteran of the United States Army. Sievila began serving his country in 2004. His service continued for 11 years. And in 2015, he was medically discharged from the Army.

Like so many others who served in the military, Andrew Sievila found himself struggling to adjust to life after his service came to an end. Following his discharge, he went through times of anger and irritability. He also had outbursts caused by his anger.

Also, like many other servicemen, Sievila needed help. And, luckily, he found it thanks to the Milwaukee Brewers Major League Baseball team and the Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. The team and mortgage company recently joined forces to provide this veteran with a service dog.

That service dog is an adorable golden retriever whose name is Willard.

The Milwaukee Brewers and the Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation worked with the American Warrior Initiative to acquire the service dog for Andrew Sievila. According to the American Warrior Initiative’s website, the organization has supported veterans “through the gifting of service dogs, business grants, home upgrades, mortgage-free housing, and more.”

The Milwaukee Brewers have also invited veteran Andrew Sievila to throw out the first pitch for an upcoming contest. He is scheduled to do so on Sunday, Sept. 19, when the team takes on the Chicago Cubs.

Veteran Andrew Sievila Shares More of His Story in Video Interview

Also, in a video shared by the Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, United States Army veteran Andrew Sievila shared some of his story with the public.

“I joined the Army back in 2004,” Sievila began.

“Coming back into civilian life was – it was challenging and difficult. Just isolating, being very depressed, not wanting to be around other people who just weren’t in the military. It creates a lot of irritability and anger outbursts,” he also shared.

Sievila also talked about how Willard has helped him. “Willard definitely brings a lot of peace and joy to my life,” the veteran also said. “

Willard arrived to help Sievila in June 2021. Fairway’s partner, Brandon Woodruff of the Milwaukee Brewers, helped make this surprise a reality for this Army veteran.

“Later on this year, I want to invite you to a Brewers’ game as my special guest,” Woodruff said when Sievila was presented Willard. “We’ll hopefully get you down on the field and (you’ll) get to experience a game day with the Brewers. … We just want to, you know, thank you very much for your service.”

You can watch Andrew Sievila’s interview below. The company also reported in the video that it has helped donated hundreds of service dogs to veterans. They have also given service animals to active service members.

https://youtu.be/MjPSS6bAp-g