Published: 10/22/2021
Craig & Fred, A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other
Gannon University will welcome author Craig Grossi to discuss his book, Craig & Fred: A Marine, a Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other, at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the Erie Insurance Arena as part of the university’s Gannon READS program.
Craig & Fred is an uplifting and unforgettable true story of a U.S. Marine, the stray dog he met on an Afghan battlefield, and how they saved each other and now travel America together "spreading the message of stubborn positivity." The book is a poignant and inspiring tale of hope, resilience and optimism. It holds a timeless message at its heart: “It is not what happens to us that matters, but how we respond to it.” Craig & Fred is a shining example of the power of love to transform our hearts and our lives.
Grossi is a Marine Corp veteran, recipient of the Purple Heart, Georgetown University graduate and has motivated hundreds of people to adopt an attitude of “stubborn positivity.” We invite him to share his thoughts with us in advance of Monday’s keynote.
Q: Why did you say yes to the invitation to visit Gannon University?
I love sharing our story in person and am honored that Gannon University brought our story to their students.
Q: Can you tell us a little about the message you will give Monday night?
I’ll talk about "stubborn positivity" and how Fred has helped me to overcome mental walls throughout my life.
Q: What is one main takeaway you hope that Gannon students keep with them after reading your book?I love how our story seems to mean something different to everyone. But I hope that it’s clear how far you can go in life when you find a reason to wag your tail.
Q: Why do you want Gannon to hear this message?
Because we can never have too many reminders of how far gratitude and stubborn positivity can take us.
Q: What excites you about coming to Erie, Pennsylvania?
Everything! We love to travel and everywhere Fred goes is more significant because of where his life started. We have a soft spot for Pennsylvania because it’s my dad’s home state.
Q: After having read your book, what is one thing about you that you think would be surprising to others?
There aren’t many surprises about me after reading my book, but for Fred he continues to love to travel, and he loves exploring new places and meeting new people. And although he is smaller than most people expect, he always makes the whole room smile.