Cena, a bomb-sniffing black lab for the marines until he retired in 2014, receives hero’s send-off organized by his first wartime partner, Jeff DeYoung

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Hundreds of people in Michigan came together to salute and say a tear-filled final goodbye to a cancer-stricken dog who served three tours in Afghanistan with the US Marines.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Lance Cpl Jeff DeYoung and Cena took the ride together. Photograph: Joel Bissell/AP

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Cena the black lab received a hero’s farewell Wednesday before being euthanized at a museum ship in Muskegon and carried off in a flag-draped coffin.

Cena was a bomb-sniffer for the marines until his retirement in 2014. He then became a service dog for Lance Cpl Jeff DeYoung, Cena’s first wartime partner.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest DeYoung carries Cena aboard the LST 393 museum ship. Photograph: Joel Bissell/AP

Cena was recently diagnosed with terminal bone cancer.

DeYoung organized the celebration for the dog. He said he wanted to take his dog on one last ride in a topless Jeep before Cena was put down. The Jeep was decorated and named “Cancer Response Team”.