I made a new video. It is still a little rough around the edges. The background song is Pearlington's Prayer, written by Miss Mississippi Kristian Dambrino. It is a beautiful song, written from the heart after a tour through Pearlington Mississippi with her father after Hurricane Katrina.
Pearlington's Prayer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK9yp4qv32Y
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Benny's story - the short version...
If you watched the "For Benny" short version, you may want to see the original video. It is about 20 minutes in length and does take a little while to download. A new friend (thanks Kyle) in Australia sent me this link that allows uploading of large files for multiple views.
(link deleted - early edition of full version now available in post on 9/8/06- For Benny)
This video is dedicated to Benny and all the other Mississippians. Many people have emailed and asked just who Benny is. Well.. he is, like many of you from Mississippi. He is a big man with an even bigger heart and we met on a day when he just happened to need a hug.
Many people are under the assumption that men don't cry. Especially big, tough, undercover type cops with very gruff exteriors. But also like you, Benny is a survivor. He rode out the storm in a shelter with his daughter. While his property damage was minor compared to that of those on the coast and his family survived, he was traumatized. I think it was survivors guilt. His job, his life, is protecting others people from harm - yet people were dying and he couldn't fix it. He couldn't halt Katrina's rampage. In fact, no one could, but I don't think anyone told Benny.
Cops, like nurses; are exposed to a great deal of tragedy. They are never really off-duty. When a situation is in front of them, they want to take charge and to set things right and when they can’t it hurts. And sometimes they cry. When I first met Benny I think he had just realized he wasn’t ten-foot tall and bullet proof, and that he couldn’t fix everything no matter how badly he wanted to.
Benny’s agency had sent him to the coast. I think his job was to prevent looters from stealing what little was left, and to give the people a little security. But in his downtime, he found Pearlington and an old man and others who needed him. The day we met he was quietly going about getting a few things to the people who couldn’t get them for themselves. Like Ensure for an old man with nothing but a battered truck and few scattered belongings.
Benny’s first words to me after our introduction were hard for him. I could see the glimmer of unshed tears in his eyes. “These are my people and it is my duty to help them…for you to come all the way down here to help people you don’t even know….” He needed a hug, and though we had just met I hugged him. Benny had to leave, just a few days after we met. I could tell he didn't want to leave but I promised him I would make sure his people were all right. I would visit them daily and get them what they needed. I would stand watch. His people, were now my people also.
Benny called me daily. I think it helped him to know that I was on the coast taking care of his people and he could take care of things at home. When I got home he sent me a letter and I don't think he will mind if I share it with you.
Wendy,
Enclosed with the CD is an American Flag that I rescued from a load of debris that was heading to the dump down on the coast.
The attached picture we named "HOPE" it represents our nation's ability to meet any challenge we may encounter at home or abroad.
I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but my mother lives on the beach in the Florida panhandle. The first thing I do when I return home after a hurricane is hang a large American flag on the front of the house, before I start any repairs or cleanup. Some of the pictures I took are of American flags. There were many more flying than I could have ever taken pictures of. I couldn't help but think of the people who returned to empty concrete slabs, or piles of debris which was their homes, and while searching for what few belongings they had left, took the time to hang an American flag.
I guess I should explain why I am sending you an old dirty and torn flag. While looking at this flag, I couldn't help but think how it is a good representation of us. By us, I mean Americans. This old flag has taken a pretty good beating just like the victims of Katrina. We are down and hurting, but we are rising to meet the challenge and stand proud, as well as appreciate people like you, who unselfishly devoted your time and effort to assist all those in need. I think the flag itself stands for people like you, real American Heroes.
All we hear from the media is the negative aspects of the disaster and not the positive. But we all know this is how they make their living. Even though the positive is not reported your efforts along with many others have made impacts in the hearts of us Mississippians and will never be forgotten.
With this in mind please accept this flag as a token of our deep appreciation for all you have done.
Thank you
Lloyd C. "Benny" Bennett
I am no hero. The people of the Gulf Coast, the survivors - like Benny, they are the heroes. I just did what had to be done. I've never been in the military, but it was a tour of duty. It was a mission. We were in the foxhole together and we helped each other and others survive. Benny doesn't give up his duty lightly, he doesn't trust others with tasks he undertakes. He wanted to stay though he was needed at home. Benny trusted me, and I won't let him down.
It's okay Benny, I'll stand your watch. You can stand down, you've earned it.
If you watched the "For Benny" short version, you may want to see the original video. It is about 20 minutes in length and does take a little while to download. A new friend (thanks Kyle) in Australia sent me this link that allows uploading of large files for multiple views.
(link deleted - early edition of full version now available in post on 9/8/06- For Benny)
This video is dedicated to Benny and all the other Mississippians. Many people have emailed and asked just who Benny is. Well.. he is, like many of you from Mississippi. He is a big man with an even bigger heart and we met on a day when he just happened to need a hug.
Many people are under the assumption that men don't cry. Especially big, tough, undercover type cops with very gruff exteriors. But also like you, Benny is a survivor. He rode out the storm in a shelter with his daughter. While his property damage was minor compared to that of those on the coast and his family survived, he was traumatized. I think it was survivors guilt. His job, his life, is protecting others people from harm - yet people were dying and he couldn't fix it. He couldn't halt Katrina's rampage. In fact, no one could, but I don't think anyone told Benny.
Cops, like nurses; are exposed to a great deal of tragedy. They are never really off-duty. When a situation is in front of them, they want to take charge and to set things right and when they can’t it hurts. And sometimes they cry. When I first met Benny I think he had just realized he wasn’t ten-foot tall and bullet proof, and that he couldn’t fix everything no matter how badly he wanted to.
Benny’s agency had sent him to the coast. I think his job was to prevent looters from stealing what little was left, and to give the people a little security. But in his downtime, he found Pearlington and an old man and others who needed him. The day we met he was quietly going about getting a few things to the people who couldn’t get them for themselves. Like Ensure for an old man with nothing but a battered truck and few scattered belongings.
Benny’s first words to me after our introduction were hard for him. I could see the glimmer of unshed tears in his eyes. “These are my people and it is my duty to help them…for you to come all the way down here to help people you don’t even know….” He needed a hug, and though we had just met I hugged him. Benny had to leave, just a few days after we met. I could tell he didn't want to leave but I promised him I would make sure his people were all right. I would visit them daily and get them what they needed. I would stand watch. His people, were now my people also.
Benny called me daily. I think it helped him to know that I was on the coast taking care of his people and he could take care of things at home. When I got home he sent me a letter and I don't think he will mind if I share it with you.
Wendy,
Enclosed with the CD is an American Flag that I rescued from a load of debris that was heading to the dump down on the coast.
The attached picture we named "HOPE" it represents our nation's ability to meet any challenge we may encounter at home or abroad.
I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but my mother lives on the beach in the Florida panhandle. The first thing I do when I return home after a hurricane is hang a large American flag on the front of the house, before I start any repairs or cleanup. Some of the pictures I took are of American flags. There were many more flying than I could have ever taken pictures of. I couldn't help but think of the people who returned to empty concrete slabs, or piles of debris which was their homes, and while searching for what few belongings they had left, took the time to hang an American flag.
I guess I should explain why I am sending you an old dirty and torn flag. While looking at this flag, I couldn't help but think how it is a good representation of us. By us, I mean Americans. This old flag has taken a pretty good beating just like the victims of Katrina. We are down and hurting, but we are rising to meet the challenge and stand proud, as well as appreciate people like you, who unselfishly devoted your time and effort to assist all those in need. I think the flag itself stands for people like you, real American Heroes.
All we hear from the media is the negative aspects of the disaster and not the positive. But we all know this is how they make their living. Even though the positive is not reported your efforts along with many others have made impacts in the hearts of us Mississippians and will never be forgotten.
With this in mind please accept this flag as a token of our deep appreciation for all you have done.
Thank you
Lloyd C. "Benny" Bennett
I am no hero. The people of the Gulf Coast, the survivors - like Benny, they are the heroes. I just did what had to be done. I've never been in the military, but it was a tour of duty. It was a mission. We were in the foxhole together and we helped each other and others survive. Benny doesn't give up his duty lightly, he doesn't trust others with tasks he undertakes. He wanted to stay though he was needed at home. Benny trusted me, and I won't let him down.
It's okay Benny, I'll stand your watch. You can stand down, you've earned it.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
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