Benjamin L. Gilman

GILMAN, Benjamin L. Sgt. Sgt. Benjamin L. Gilman, 28, beloved son of Edith R. Gilman, of Allan Court, Meriden, died Thursday, (January 29, 2004) due to an accidental explosion, while he and members of his unit were attempting to dispose of a weapons cache in Ghazni, in Afghanistan. Born in Meriden, May 21, 1975, Ben was a lifelong Meriden resident. A graduate of Orville H. Platt High School in Meriden, he had been employed by the Roy Rogers in the Westfield Shopping Mall in Meriden for several years, and had received awards for his volunteer work at the former Meriden-Wallingford Hospital. He enlisted in the US Army in 1996, and was serving as a Team Leader with the 41st Engineering Battalion, Headquarters Company, TF 2-87, the 10th Mountain Division, from August 5, 2003 to January 29, 2004, while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, post-humously, the Army Achievement Medal with Device, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal with Device, the Army Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal for Kosovo. He also held an Expert Badge with two Devices. Ben was and avid sports fan who's favorite teams were, the New York Yankees, the Chicago Bulls and the Denver Broncos. Besides his mother Edith, he is survived by his maternal grandmother, Ruth A. Gilman of Tacoma, Wash., his aunt, Rose Miskar, his two uncles, Edward and Elmer Gilman, all of Washington, several cousins, and many close friends, including his Big Sister, Jean Moran, and her husband, Louis Pontacoloni and their children, Joe, Sam, Jon and Michaella Pontacoloni, all of Wethersfield. He was predeceased by maternal grandfather, William Gilman and an uncle, Henry Gilman. Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services, with full military honors, on Saturday, February 14, in the First Congregational Church of East Haven, (The Old Stone Church), 251 Main St., East Haven, CT, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Karen Johnson, Pastor, officiating. Interment will be private. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to the Sgt. Benjamin L. Gilman Scholarship Fund, c/o Mayor's Office, City of Meriden, 142 East Main St., Meriden, CT 06450, or to the Nutmeg Big Brothers/Big Sisters, 6 Fairfield Boulevard, Wallingford, CT 06492. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street, Ext., Wallingford.