Happy Birthday, America!

This story was originally posted on my Facebook on July 4th, 2016.

BENERGY story for 4th of July:

Not long after Ben died, I received a poster in the mail from one of the Ranger Battalion chaplains. It was a very large photo of Ben that had been used for the memorial service held for him in Afghanistan. Someone had zoomed in on Ben in the middle of a photo of his entire platoon and then photo-shopped an American Flag behind his head. It was a photo of Ben that would come to be used often in news stories.

I had it framed and spent more than I ever thought I would to frame a “poster”, however this was more than just a poster. I justified the museum quality glass and frame because this “poster” was now priceless and I figured I would have it for the rest of my life. The framed poster now measured 40”x32”. I displayed it on the wall in my small office at home and would say hello to Ben’s larger than life face every time I entered the room. 

I had joked over the years that I might one day have to donate a wing to a hospital in order to have a big enough wall to properly display this mega portrait of Ben.

It stayed in the same place in my office for nearly six years until it was removed from my house last year after my fire and sent off for professional restoration. 

It was later returned to me fully restored and carefully wrapped in bubble wrap and cardboard along with my other “art” in a very large oblong box. Once again, I wondered what I was going to do with this larger than life poster of Ben. It’s not that I don’t want it, of course it’s very special to me. I do not own a house right now and haven’t a clue when I will again (a different story for a different time), not to mention it’s a jumbo fragile item to tote around and safely store.

Fast forward to two weeks ago, I get a call from an active duty Ranger who has stayed in contact with me over the years. He was calling to tell me it had been decided to name the conference room in the new Charlie Company headquarters building, the “Kopp War Room”.

I was very touched to learn this news, thanked him for sharing with me and then a lightbulb went off in my head. I asked, 

“Just how big is this conference room?” 

“It’s pretty large, Mam, the table will seat more than 20 people.” Great! I then ask him if they would like a donation for the Kopp War Room from me? I explain the framed poster and tell him I think this was all meant to be. He tells me he will have to check with the powers that be and get back to me. All is good, I get the thumbs up that they would like it, but it left one question, how to get this giant to Ft. Benning? It would cost a small fortune to ship it via UPS or USPS because of the size and the fact that it is very fragile.

I would be passing through that area in several weeks and could probably take it in my car, but thought I would take my quest to Facebook to see if anyone I knew was traveling from the Tampa area to Ft. Benning sooner than me and willing to take the responsibility of getting it there safely. I immediately got a bite from a woman I had very recently become friends with. I was introduced to her from Connie, a friend in Minnesota. Dawn was a Minnesota native who had transplanted to Florida a number of years ago and lived about an hour from me. Connie introduced us believing we would have things in common and might become friends. 

Dawn and I had exchanged a couple brief messages and agreed we would get together in the near future. She informed me that her husband was a veteran, offered her sympathy for Ben’s death and was very familiar with his story over the years through what Connie had shared with her. In Dawn’s response to my question looking for someone to transport the poster, she told me she had a friend who was active duty at Ft. Benning and would be coming to stay with her for a week and then driving back on July 9th. 

Perfect, except I wanted to know what his credentials were. I wasn’t going to send the giant Ben poster with just anyone. I wanted to speak to this man myself and explain to him what precious cargo it was and then decide for myself if I felt like I could trust him. Dawn said she would have him call me. I told her it was critical it was dropped at Charlie Company, not just any building in the Ranger offices. She then informed me that “Shawn” worked directly with the Rangers, he was a Jump Master Instructor and knew exactly where the Charlie Company building was. In fact, he had very recently graduated several Charlie Company Rangers. No kidding!!??

Shawn called me three days later. I explained to him how precious this cargo was, and not just for me, but now for the new "Kopp War Room". He reiterated his credentials that Dawn offered and further explained that his job was recently re-aligned so that he now reported directly to one of the Ranger Units. 

FOR REAL??? WHAT ARE THE ODDS???

Shawn, his wife April and Dawn drove to my house the next day (yesterday) to pick up the giant Ben face. We spent several hours talking and getting to know each other and the three of them getting to know Ben through my stories. It didn’t take me long to know Shawn was trustworthy and definitely qualified as the right man for the job. 

This is another in a great many stories of BENERGY at it’s best. I asked a favor of many people with slim odds of it being fulfilled, so I thought. I should not have expected anything but this. I know how BENERGY works; it answers prayers, it creates miracles and brings love and joy to my heart over and over again. 

This is not just about BENERGY, it’s about brotherhood, the brotherhood of those who have served our country and the immortal loyalty that lives in them. 

On this FOURTH of JULY holiday, I offer my gratitude to every person, past and present, who has served our great country. It is the collective selfless sacrifices of these past 240 years that helped shaped my Ben and Shawn and millions of other men and women who strived to emulate them. The dots have connected from 1776 until this very minute and intertwined right here in this story. 

I am proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free. I won’t forget the men who died who gave that right to me, ever! And there will be a conference room in Charlie Company with a larger than life reminder hanging on its wall, watching over with pride to have defended the flag that still stands today. 

Oh beautiful, for heroes proved, 

In liberating strife, Who more than self, our country loved,

And mercy more than life.

Happy Birthday, America. Bless God, America. He has SHINED His grace on thee.

*** Postscript: What I didn’t share in this original post (because it hadn’t happened yet) was the fact that Shawn’s trip back to Ft. Benning was delayed by one day due to a tropical storm. He was due to arrive on July 9th, but instead arrived on July 10th, the very day, seven years earlier that Ben had been shot. 

That was the icing on this large slice of BENERGY cake delivered to me for America’s Birthday in 2016. 

I cannot make these stories up. These types of things have happened in my life consistently, and with no sign of slowing down for the last ten years. There is no doubt in my mind they are divinely orchestrated and I couldn’t be more grateful.