A funeral ceremony will be held on Oct. 13 for Parris Island’s 20th mascot, Cpl. Legend, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge last month.
Legend, an English bulldog, was diagnosed with a heart condition earlier this year and placed on a limited work schedule ahead of his expected retirement, a Parris Island news release said. He was found unresponsive on Sept. 17 and pronounced dead at the depot’s veterinary clinic.
After joining the Marine Corps in November 2011, Legend completed training as an honor graduate and earned a meritorious promotion to private first class, the news release says.
Primary caretaker Cpl. Alicia Stull described Legend as “a very relaxed dog” who taught her to be more relaxed as a person. Stull began taking care of Legend in August 2016.
“Each time I left my room he would run behind me and look at me like I was never going to come back,” Stull said in the news release. “So, I always took him with me wherever I went. He was like my baby.”
Parris Island’s newest mascot, Opha May, is slated to complete training on Nov. 17. The English bulldog is the first female dog to serve as the depot’s mascot. She is named for Opha May Johnson, the first female Marine.
“She is excited about anything or everything you put in front of her,” Cpl. Cameron Philips, of Headquarters and Service Battalion, said in the news release. “She is very social and energetic; her people skills are why she will fulfil her new role excellently.”
