This Wounded Veteran's Service Dog Was His Best Man, And It'll Make You Bawl

Man's best friend becomes man's best man.

This is U.S. Army veteran Justin Lansford, his wife Carol, and his therapy dog, Gabe.

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Justin lost his left leg while serving in Afghanistan on April 23, 2012. "I was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and we were in eastern Afghanistan in early 2012," he told Lara Spencer last year. "We struck an IED and it flipped my truck completely. I had bilaterally severed femurs which resulted in the amputation of my left leg."

Gabe came into their lives through Warrior Canine Connection two years ago, and since then, he's played a big role in Justin's recuperation.

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Though Justin can now move as though he has two fully functional legs, he was in and out of surgery for four months after the incident in Afghanistan, his wife Carol told BuzzFeed Life. Four-year-old Gabe was trained for emotional and mobility assistance, so he can help open doors, pick up items, and respond if Justin ever falls.

Gabe went above and beyond the call of duty last Veteran's Day, when he held the ring box during Justin's proposal.

Naturally, Gabe also played a big part in Justin and Carol's wedding last Saturday.

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The strikingly handsome golden retriever served as Justin's best man, a role he was born to play.

"You have to make sure a support dog is always happy and that they'll love the person they’re with forever," Carol, who has worked for Warrior Canine Connection, said. "The second Justin walked into the room when they met, Gabe was wiggling, crying, and rolling on the floor."

Gabe wore an outfit made out of a military uniform that was decorated with all of Justin’s ribbons and medals.

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Carol reported that he was perfectly behaved, as usual.

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"He goes everywhere with us, so it was an obvious thing to have him there," she said. "He loves the attention, so I know he was happy about it."

Bravo, Gabe. You killed any wedding-day jitters and also made for perfect photos.

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"It's hard to be anxious, upset, or sad if you have that face looking at you," Carol said.

We couldn't agree more.

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