Visitors to the Jimmy Stewart Museum’s recent 30th anniversary celebration in Indiana, Pennsylvania, came for the nostalgia, movie memories and a touch of Hollywood history—but it was a four-legged guest who stole the spotlight. The surprise star of the event? Warrior Canine Connection’s (WCC) Jimmy, a Labrador Retriever and service dog in training named in honor of the iconic Jimmy Stewart.

WCC’s Jimmy is one of the Service Dogs-in-Training at WCC’s program site located at Duquesne University—and the only dog with a name that honors a beloved local legend. The on-campus site offers WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program to Veteran students and community members. MBTR taps into the power of the human-animal bond by having Veterans train service dogs for fellow Warriors. Along the way, those participating in the program often experience their own therapeutic benefits, building connection and a renewed sense of purpose, while also improving sleep, emotional regulation and impulse control, and reducing stress, depression and hypervigilance. 

At the event, Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, daughter of the late U.S. Army Veteran and Hollywood star Jimmy Stewart, had the chance to meet WCC’s Jimmy in person. She shared how moved she was when she was first approached about naming a future service dog after her father.

“All I thought was dad would be so happy—dad would be so proud to be working with this organization,” shared Stewart-Harcourt. 

WCC’s namesake program was created to honor and celebrate our nation’s heroes. Each of its service dogs in training is named after a Service Member or Veteran, both past and present, who has served our country. Jimmy Stewart was not only a treasured actor but also a decorated World War II pilot—known for his strong sense of patriotism and his deep love of animals, something some fans may remember from his touching poem, Beau, written about his own dog.  

At the museum that bears her father’s name, Stewart-Harcourt said it felt especially fitting that his legacy now includes helping Veterans in such a meaningful way. 

As she patted WCC’s Jimmy’s head, she added, “It’s just a perfect match.” 

Perfect, indeed.
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