Man's Best Friend — to the End
Dogs haven't just been used in volatile situations this year; they have wanted to pay their respects in sensitive ones too. Thirty-five-year-old Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson was one of 22 SEALs (and among 30 Americans) who tragically lost their lives when their Chinook helicopter was shot down by Afghan insurgents in August. At Tumilson's funeral, his beloved dog Hawkeye (known to Tumilson's family and friends as his "son") lay at the foot of the casket throughout the ceremony. The heartbreaking image of Hawkeye that was taken by Tumilson's cousin Lisa Pembleton is surely one of the most poignant of the year. "I took this picture, and that was my view throughout the entire funeral," she said. "I couldn't not take a picture." Hawkeye is now being cared for by a friend of Tumilson's, but it's evident that he'll never forget his previous owner.