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Benjamin Sammis Obituary
For Rehoboth, distance war 'hits right at your doorstep'
Even people who did not know town native Capt. Benjamin Sammis, who was killed in Iraq over the weekend, are touched by his loss.
04/07/2003
BY MICHAEL P. McKINNEY
Journal Staff Writer
REHOBOTH -- The war came home yesterday to this quiet place where firefighters hold drive-through chicken barbecues. Where a sign reads "please pray for the USA," people found themselves saying a prayer for Marine Capt. Benjamin W. Sammis.
People were saddened to learn that Sammis, 29, who grew up in Rehoboth, was killed Saturday in central Iraq when his Cobra helicopter went down. Flags were at half-staff all over town. He was the first Rehoboth resident to die in combat since the Vietnam War and the second person from Massachusetts to die in the war in Iraq.
Until this weekend, "The war was a war that somebody else fought," said firefighter Ray J. O'Connell, as he signaled cars into the Martin Street fire station's drive-through barbecue yesterday. "Now it's a war that hit right at your doorstep."
O'Connell knew Sammis only indirectly, remembering a young man involved with a Dighton-Rehoboth High School musical that O'Connell's daughter was in. He knew Sammis wanted to be a pilot.
Many people -- one estimate was 200 -- stopped by the pretty red house on Pine Street to be with Benjamin's parents, Steven and Beth, and other family. Amid the sadness, people remembered how much Sammis wanted to fly from the age of 10. They remembered sun-splashed days at the Barrington Yacht Club, when Sammis, a sailing instructor in high school, took 8- and 9-year-old beginning sailors under his wing.
"They were afraid -- their boats had tipped over," said family friend Bruce Morris. "And he built up their confidence."
And there were days when father and son competed against each other while sailing their boat "Beth." There was good-natured ribbing, Morris said, one of those universals that dads and sons share.
"He and his dad were so close," said Morris.
Morris said that Benjamin Sammis worked his way from flying an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter to piloting a Super Cobra helicopter.
Later this week, Morris said, the family plans to go to Camp Pendleton, in California -- where Benjamin Sammis was stationed -- for a ceremony. Sammis was the middle of three brothers and the husband of Stacy Sammis, his wife of 18 months.
Yesterday, it hardly mattered how well people knew Sammis. The town is a close-knit place where some people have lived for generations, where time seems to slow down because it's the polite thing to do.
"Everybody who doesn't even know him can't believe it happened," said O'Connell.
"To have someone from Rehoboth -- it affects you," said Catherine Charbonneau, as she waited to drive through the fire headquarters property. "If anything, it pulls people together."
A steady line of cars dropped by the firehouse, people smiling, partaking in the small-town rituals of any other day. A little boy dribbled a basketball inside the firehouse. A massive metal container held cold slaw. The sky was blue.
Yet there were differences. The next time the television comes on and the 24-hour news stations continue their relentless coverage, some people said the war will seem closer than any embedded reporter can make it.
"It kind of makes you stop and think," said Dave Horton, 70.
About a week ago, dozens of residents gathered on Redway Plain, a 13-acre property where Colonists once trained to battle the British. Residents sang the national anthem and rallied to remember the troops fighting in Iraq.
Norman Spring said people plan to gather at Redway Plain again. They will add a name to those they honor: Benjamin Sammis. "He will be remembered," said Spring.
More commemorations are doubtless being planned.
A drive down one country lane yesterday, found a red, white and blue sign that said "United we stand." But there were also yellow ribbons tied to utility poles and wood fences. And, in front of the Rehoboth fire headquarters, a sign that might announce chicken barbecues on any other day offered this:
"Ben Sammis. Our fallen hero."
04/07/2003
BY MICHAEL P. McKINNEY
Journal Staff Writer
REHOBOTH -- The war came home yesterday to this quiet place where firefighters hold drive-through chicken barbecues. Where a sign reads "please pray for the USA," people found themselves saying a prayer for Marine Capt. Benjamin W. Sammis.
People were saddened to learn that Sammis, 29, who grew up in Rehoboth, was killed Saturday in central Iraq when his Cobra helicopter went down. Flags were at half-staff all over town. He was the first Rehoboth resident to die in combat since the Vietnam War and the second person from Massachusetts to die in the war in Iraq.
Until this weekend, "The war was a war that somebody else fought," said firefighter Ray J. O'Connell, as he signaled cars into the Martin Street fire station's drive-through barbecue yesterday. "Now it's a war that hit right at your doorstep."
O'Connell knew Sammis only indirectly, remembering a young man involved with a Dighton-Rehoboth High School musical that O'Connell's daughter was in. He knew Sammis wanted to be a pilot.
Many people -- one estimate was 200 -- stopped by the pretty red house on Pine Street to be with Benjamin's parents, Steven and Beth, and other family. Amid the sadness, people remembered how much Sammis wanted to fly from the age of 10. They remembered sun-splashed days at the Barrington Yacht Club, when Sammis, a sailing instructor in high school, took 8- and 9-year-old beginning sailors under his wing.
"They were afraid -- their boats had tipped over," said family friend Bruce Morris. "And he built up their confidence."
And there were days when father and son competed against each other while sailing their boat "Beth." There was good-natured ribbing, Morris said, one of those universals that dads and sons share.
"He and his dad were so close," said Morris.
Morris said that Benjamin Sammis worked his way from flying an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter to piloting a Super Cobra helicopter.
Later this week, Morris said, the family plans to go to Camp Pendleton, in California -- where Benjamin Sammis was stationed -- for a ceremony. Sammis was the middle of three brothers and the husband of Stacy Sammis, his wife of 18 months.
Yesterday, it hardly mattered how well people knew Sammis. The town is a close-knit place where some people have lived for generations, where time seems to slow down because it's the polite thing to do.
"Everybody who doesn't even know him can't believe it happened," said O'Connell.
"To have someone from Rehoboth -- it affects you," said Catherine Charbonneau, as she waited to drive through the fire headquarters property. "If anything, it pulls people together."
A steady line of cars dropped by the firehouse, people smiling, partaking in the small-town rituals of any other day. A little boy dribbled a basketball inside the firehouse. A massive metal container held cold slaw. The sky was blue.
Yet there were differences. The next time the television comes on and the 24-hour news stations continue their relentless coverage, some people said the war will seem closer than any embedded reporter can make it.
"It kind of makes you stop and think," said Dave Horton, 70.
About a week ago, dozens of residents gathered on Redway Plain, a 13-acre property where Colonists once trained to battle the British. Residents sang the national anthem and rallied to remember the troops fighting in Iraq.
Norman Spring said people plan to gather at Redway Plain again. They will add a name to those they honor: Benjamin Sammis. "He will be remembered," said Spring.
More commemorations are doubtless being planned.
A drive down one country lane yesterday, found a red, white and blue sign that said "United we stand." But there were also yellow ribbons tied to utility poles and wood fences. And, in front of the Rehoboth fire headquarters, a sign that might announce chicken barbecues on any other day offered this:
"Ben Sammis. Our fallen hero."
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Providence Journal on Apr. 7, 2003.
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