From the Burlington Free Press
Mourners at the Church of the Rock remembered with fondness the career Army sergeant who died Aug, 10 of wounds sustained in a Baghdad suicide bomb attack. They shared tears, laughter and a call to believe that the beaming blond-haired man in the pictures that filled the service now smiles with God. "The person who smiles in the pictures still smiles," said the Rev. Roland Ludlam, pastor of the church. Friends and family described Benson as a warm-hearted husband who massaged his wife's feet before bed and left sticky notes saying "I love you" in the cupboards of their house before he left for Iraq. Once there, he cherished her perfume-scented letters and contacted her every chance he could. Benson, 40, was a quick wit who often used jokes to loosen up tense situations. He was a fanatic for spicy food and fast cars. He rooted for NASCAR racer Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the Minnesota Vikings and Twins sports teams. He had a deep belief in God and country, friends and relatives said. Benson was born in Winona, Minn., and joined the Army shortly alter high school. He served for 19 years and seven months, working his way up from ammunition bearer to squad leader, recruiter and trainer. He lived in North Carolina, New York, Italy and Hawaii and served in the 1991 Gulf War. He developed a great fondness for Vermont after meeting his future wife, who grew up in Colchester. She returned to Vermont after her husband was deployed to Iraq in March to help train Iraqi police and security forces. Benson was buried Friday in the Brown family plot in Belvidere. Neale Brown, Benson's father-in-law, said he would not forget him. "I'm here to honor a true hero, my hero," he said. "I considered him a son. Michael chose to call me Daddy." Benson is the 18th U.S. soldier with ties to Vermont to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom since the war began in 2003. U,S. Rep. Bernie Sanders, Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, Vermont Adjutant Gen. Martha Rainville and Gov. Jim Douglas attended the funeral. Douglas praised Benson's heroism and sacrifice. "I won't forget him," Douglas said to Benson's family and other mourners. "I wont forget you. I won't forget this day." The service was fitting for a former Army recruiter. Bouquets of red, white and blue flowers decorated the church. An honor guard from Fort Drum, N.Y., where Benson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 314th Regiment, carried his f1ag-draped coffin into the church. As a slide show illuminated images of Benson in all the stages of his life, from blond tyke on a tricycle to handsome groom, a sound system played Toby Keith's "AmeriGan Soldier" and Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." The melodies soared over Benson's coffin. Loved ones hugged Benson's widow a little tighter. Outside the church, the sun shone and a stiff breeze blew through the green landscape. One thing death cannot take away is memories, said Aaron Malusky, Benson's brother-in-law, who traveled to the funeral from the Midwest. He remembered Benson as a man of integrity and faith, a man who didn't necessarily subscribe to set notions. While many people steer away from religion and politics in conversation, Benson steered toward them, Malusky said. He and his brother-in-law had many animated conversations, in all kinds of settings. "Just a simple car ride, one place to another, we could save the world," Malusky said. The night before Benson shipped out to Iraq, he called his brother-in-law. They prayed together, and Benson made it clear he believed in the cause of freedom, Malusky said. "Michael was a giver. He gave not just of his means, of substance, he gave of his heart. |
ST, ALBANS - Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Allen Benson was eulogized Friday in the church where he and
his widow, Elizabeth Brown Benson, were married eight years ago.