JULY 2018 (^) * REMINISCE.COM 31
EVIE-JANE AND ENA,
her guide dog, cross a
street in Morristown, NJ,
in 1979. This was the
prototype image for a
15 -cent seeing eye dog
commemorative stamp
and appeared on the
program for the First Day
of Issue ceremony.
Let Me Lead You There
by
June D. Vanderlaan• Rhinebeck, NY
MY SISTEREVELYN-JANEDAVISBURGAYWASBORNIN1939
with manyeyeissues,includingretinitispigmentosa,araredisorder
that causestunnelvisionandforwhichthereisnocure.Evie-Jane’s
sight grewweakeruntil,whilestillateenager,shebecamelegally
blind. She qualified for a guide dog, and that enabled her to complete
college. Whileworkingataschoolfortheblind,Evie-Janetaught
herself braille, and then pursued her dream to study law.
Throughout her successful
career, Evie-Jane worked with
five dogs—Julie, Ena, Ava,
Duchess and Dana. Each had her
own personality and strengths.
They were all true gifts, allowing
my sister to live life to the fullest.
Not only did they help her to get
around all over the world, they
were loyal companions. When in
harness, they tended to their task
to keep my sister safe. Off the
harness, they were loving pets
we could all play with.
With each dog’s death Evie-
Jane lost a beloved and trusted
friend. Her tribute “One Last
Pat,” to Julie, her first guide dog,
could apply to all of them. It reads,
in part, “Would that I would
serve so faithfully, so earnestly,
so cheerfully. Would that I would
guide another’s steps so carefully,
so selflessly, so proudly.”
~ DANA ~ ~ DUCHESS ~ ~ JULIE ~
frankie
(Frankie)
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