Benjamin Brian Portell

Hello, We wanted you to know that we will be honoring and remembering your loved one this holiday season. We have recently sent Care Packages to our deployed troops in his name. Each package will carry the name, photo, service branch, rank and hometown of Benjamin Brian Portell US Army Sergeant. We realize that this is a small tribute, but we do this with all respect and sincerity and we want you to know that it is made possible by thousands of like-minded individuals from across the...

Memorial Day is over. Benji crossed my mind. There is a weird mix of feeling during these occasions. I am obviously sad that he is gone. I am also proud he worked in the armed forces. I am very glad to have known him (though a very short amount of time in High School), his smile, his demeanor...extremely nice and humble to boot. I also feel a bit of nostalgia wishing I could go back and see him all the more. Ah well, life is an odd thing. A mix of happy, sad, tears, smiles, ...and...

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends John 15:13 we love and miss you Ben Rhonda

Ben,

Memorial Day weekend is here. While everyone else is taking advantage of sales, people are having BBQ's, having many drinks....I am remembering you and the many other men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Every once in a while a memory of our conversations will pop up and I still get the biggest smile, sometimes I tear up. One that sticks out in my mind is when we were alone and talking about life in general. It was a "serious" conversation and you said,...

Ben,

Once again thinking about you. You would be one year older, and that makes me think of how short your life was cut. How many wonderful years were taken from you. Miss you and your laugh, the world is a darker place without you in it.

Ben,

Memorial Day is coming up and of course it brings your memory to the forefront of my mind. I still have moments when I cry and wish you could have lived longer, to experience the joys of being a father. I never met Michelle but you talked to me about her. I was so thrilled to see you happy. I just wonder what your life would be now. You are never forgotten.

Think of you offen and miss you very much. You were a loving young boy and grew into a wonderful young man.

Miss you Ben.

I was the MEDEVAC pilot that responded to this call on that terrible day. Even though I never knew him, I still live with what happened that day, as does my entire crew. It comforts me to know that he has family in my hometown of Jacksonville, FL. God bless the family and friends.