Local News

Thank You Card Overwhelms War Veteran

(Rolling Prairie, IN) - A La Porte County man is beaming with pride over a homemade thank you card from his six year old granddaughter for his military service.  John Benson, 75, said the only nicer gift for him would be living long enough to watch his granddaughter, Emma, grow up.

 

Benson said he cried tears of joy after Emma gave him a hug while handing him the card for Veterans Day during her birthday party.

 

His six years in the U.S. Army included one-year of combat duty in the Vietnam War.

 

“I was proud.  I was happy and I was very honored that little girl gave that to me,” he said.

 

The front of the card is titled “Veterans are the heart of America.”

 

Emma, a kindergarten student at Westville Elementary School, drew the outline of a heart and filled the inside with pieces of green and brown paper resembling camouflage that she glued to the surface.  The inside of the card features a smaller camouflage colored heart and Emma saying in writing “I’m thankful for veterans who protect us.”

 

Benson said he was taken back enough by his granddaughter’s unexpected expression of gratitude that he had to step away.

 

“I didn’t want everybody who was there to see tears coming down my cheeks,” he said.

 

Benson has lived in Rolling Prairie for about the past 30-years.  He was drafted into the military after graduating from high school and escaped injury during his active duty in the war.  He later moved to New Buffalo and resided in other communities like Three Oaks before settling down in Rolling Prairie.

 

Benson said he’s glad to have served time in battle and wouldn’t think twice about returning to active duty, even now, if called upon.

 

“I’d go tomorrow.  I feel that strong about our country,” he said.

 

Adding to his emotions from receiving the card was the feeling of gratitude he felt considering the reaction to soldiers returning home from the war the nation lost was often the exact opposite.

 

“That’s more respect than I got when I came home,” he said.

 

Benson said he plans to place the card into a frame and hang it on his living room wall.  He said the only better gift he can imagine is being here to see his granddaughter grow up in a country that’s still free.

 

“You can’t put a price on that,” Benson said.

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